🔗 Share this article

Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the United States are preparing some spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject 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 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh collection of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready 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 cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works 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 renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, 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 film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 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 home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations 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 celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.