Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions across the United States have some spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.
Roy Lichtenstein
First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.
Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet
Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.
Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu
Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director delved 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 evoke 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
A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.
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 paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.
Raphael: Sublime Poetry
The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across 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
NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.
Leilah Babirye
The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.
Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power
Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.
Additional Highlights for 2026
Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.
