🔗 Share this article

From old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American film-maker, art museums as well as institutions across the US are preparing some spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *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 revisits more than 1m ft of film that was left out into the released movie, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s 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 all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since 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: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a major show on US 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*. With works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work 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 discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.