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Spanning old masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican director, art museums and institutions across the US are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Marking the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that was left out into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a new series of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.