Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American director, art museums as well as galleries across the United States are preparing a series of spectacular 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 online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from collections around the world. 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 Venice with two interconnected shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 canvases, 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 first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that was left out into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.
The Sculptural World of Carol Bove
The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.
Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper
Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as 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 artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.
Taking Back Our Space
Expanding upon 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 shapes 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 Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.
And more …
Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.
