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From old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican director, art museums as well as institutions throughout the United States have some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that was left out into the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her early works and moving through to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout 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

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, 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 artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.