🔗 Share this article

From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican director, art museums as well as institutions across the United States are preparing some dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected shows: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 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 first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new series of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with 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 volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation 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 an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.