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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, galleries and institutions throughout the United States are preparing some spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering Venice through two interconnected shows: one location will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that was left out into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained 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. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.