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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the United States have a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the archives 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 pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *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 paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely been honored with a major show 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 throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations 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, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 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 conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.