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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American director, art museums as well as institutions throughout the US have some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now just a placeholder listing at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving through to a fresh collection of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her materials straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a thorough survey. 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 actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work 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 transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.