diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 7fec6081f405..8619ac919f54 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@ def show(cls, block=None):
         if not managers:
             return
         for manager in managers:
-            manager.show()
+            if rcParams['figure.show']:
+                manager.show()
         if block is None:
             # Hack: Are we in IPython's pylab mode?
             from matplotlib import pyplot
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index a4c86779ba4e..8a8f38115a2d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -1289,6 +1289,8 @@ def _validate_linestyle(ls):
     # This is a buffer around the axes in inches.  This is 3pts.
     'figure.constrained_layout.h_pad': [0.04167, validate_float],
     'figure.constrained_layout.w_pad': [0.04167, validate_float],
+    # Show the figure on the GUI
+    'figure.show': [True, validate_bool],
 
     ## Saving figure's properties
     'savefig.dpi':         ['figure', validate_dpi],  # DPI
diff --git a/matplotlibrc.template b/matplotlibrc.template
index d301ece5200b..4198a64cf079 100644
--- a/matplotlibrc.template
+++ b/matplotlibrc.template
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ backend      : $TEMPLATE_BACKEND
 #figure.constrained_layout.w_pad : 0.04167 ##  inches. Default is 3./72. inches (3 pts)
 #figure.constrained_layout.hspace : 0.02   ## Space between subplot groups. Float representing 
 #figure.constrained_layout.wspace : 0.02   ##  a fraction of the subplot widths being separated. 
+#figure.show       : True    ## Show the figure on the GUI
 
 #### IMAGES
 #image.aspect : equal             ## equal | auto | a number