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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, galleries and galleries across the US have some dazzling exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering Venice through two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, 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 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often 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 venues. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom received a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

A New York 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 explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.