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From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the US have some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, 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 deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *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 first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that never made it into the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving through to a fresh series of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book 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 around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering 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 titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With 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: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display 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 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, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.