🔗 Share this article

From Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American film-maker, galleries and institutions across the US are preparing some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation 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 explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 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 home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.