Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American film-maker, art museums as well as institutions across the US have a series of spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.
Roy Lichtenstein
Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.
Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice
San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.
Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection
Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.
The Sculptural World of Carol Bove
A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving 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 often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.
Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper
Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.
Raphael: Sublime Poetry
Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution 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 total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.
Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power
Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.
Additional Highlights for 2026
Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.
