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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as institutions throughout the US have a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new collection of works fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented 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 titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.