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Spanning old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the US have some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.