Spanning old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US have some dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.
The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein
Announced all the way back during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.
Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet
San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: the former museum 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 made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.
Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection
Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that was left out of the released movie, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of 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 sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her components directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.
Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper
Those familiar with 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 paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter 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 celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
A Boston contemporary art center 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 transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.
Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power
Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.
Additional Highlights for 2026
In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.
