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From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the United States have some spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new series of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed 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 showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.