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From Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican director, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and another, will be centering Venice with two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that never made it into the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined 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 – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.