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From old masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer 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*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that never made it of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ripe for a thorough overview. 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 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.