🔗 Share this article

From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a renowned Latin American director, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that never made it into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter 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 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 multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, 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 a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases 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 deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 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.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.