🔗 Share this article

From old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, art museums and galleries across the United States are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked shows: one location will offer 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 thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation 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

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new collection of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with 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 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work 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 unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.