From Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American film-maker, art museums as well as galleries throughout the US have some spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.
The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein
Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant expectations. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.
Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet
Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic 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, producing some 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
Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.
Carol Bove
The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.
Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper
Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.
Raphael: Sublime Poetry
The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum 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 throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
NYC’s 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 digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept 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: 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 exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.
Additional Highlights for 2026
Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.
