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From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as institutions across the US are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite 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 comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials straight from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures 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, her three decades of creation are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually 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 the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change 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 more than 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 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 transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.