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Spanning old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions across the United States have a series of spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous 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 is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 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 …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.