diff --git a/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/21983-AL.rst b/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/21983-AL.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d287756ec2d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/21983-AL.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+``FigureFrameWx`` constructor, subclasses, and ``get_canvas``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+The ``FigureCanvasWx`` constructor gained a *canvas_class* keyword-only
+parameter which specifies the canvas class that should be used.  This
+parameter will become required in the future.  The ``get_canvas`` method,
+which was previously used to customize canvas creation, is deprecated.  The
+``FigureFrameWxAgg`` and ``FigureFrameWxCairo`` subclasses, which overrode
+``get_canvas``, are deprecated.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index f8d867caf88b..ebacb94b9095 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ def _print_image(self, filetype, filename):
 
 
 class FigureFrameWx(wx.Frame):
-    def __init__(self, num, fig):
+    def __init__(self, num, fig, *, canvas_class=None):
         # On non-Windows platform, explicitly set the position - fix
         # positioning bug on some Linux platforms
         if wx.Platform == '__WXMSW__':
@@ -905,7 +905,15 @@ def __init__(self, num, fig):
         self.num = num
         _set_frame_icon(self)
 
-        self.canvas = self.get_canvas(fig)
+        # The parameter will become required after the deprecation elapses.
+        if canvas_class is not None:
+            self.canvas = canvas_class(self, -1, fig)
+        else:
+            _api.warn_deprecated(
+                "3.6", message="The canvas_class parameter will become "
+                "required after the deprecation period starting in Matplotlib "
+                "%(since)s elapses.")
+            self.canvas = self.get_canvas(fig)
         w, h = map(math.ceil, fig.bbox.size)
         self.canvas.SetInitialSize(wx.Size(w, h))
         self.canvas.SetFocus()
@@ -953,6 +961,8 @@ def _get_toolbar(self):
             toolbar = None
         return toolbar
 
+    @_api.deprecated(
+        "3.6", alternative="the canvas_class constructor parameter")
     def get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasWx(self, -1, fig)
 
@@ -1393,7 +1403,6 @@ def trigger(self, *args, **kwargs):
 class _BackendWx(_Backend):
     FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWx
     FigureManager = FigureManagerWx
-    _frame_class = FigureFrameWx
 
     @classmethod
     def new_figure_manager(cls, num, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -1410,7 +1419,7 @@ def new_figure_manager(cls, num, *args, **kwargs):
 
     @classmethod
     def new_figure_manager_given_figure(cls, num, figure):
-        frame = cls._frame_class(num, figure)
+        frame = FigureFrameWx(num, figure, canvas_class=cls.FigureCanvas)
         figmgr = frame.get_figure_manager()
         if mpl.is_interactive():
             figmgr.frame.Show()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
index c88a59979daa..67cf58c4408d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import wx
 
+from .. import _api
 from .backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg
 from .backend_wx import (
     _BackendWx, _FigureCanvasWxBase, FigureFrameWx,
     NavigationToolbar2Wx as NavigationToolbar2WxAgg)
 
 
+@_api.deprecated(
+    "3.6", alternative="FigureFrameWx(..., canvas_class=FigureCanvasWxAgg)")
 class FigureFrameWxAgg(FigureFrameWx):
     def get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasWxAgg(self, -1, fig)
@@ -56,4 +59,3 @@ def _rgba_to_wx_bitmap(rgba):
 @_BackendWx.export
 class _BackendWxAgg(_BackendWx):
     FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWxAgg
-    _frame_class = FigureFrameWxAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxcairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxcairo.py
index 0ff10d9b27d7..21d2e5d0d60d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxcairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxcairo.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import wx.lib.wxcairo as wxcairo
 
+from .. import _api
 from .backend_cairo import cairo, FigureCanvasCairo
 from .backend_wx import (
     _BackendWx, _FigureCanvasWxBase, FigureFrameWx,
     NavigationToolbar2Wx as NavigationToolbar2WxCairo)
 
 
+@_api.deprecated(
+    "3.6", alternative="FigureFrameWx(..., canvas_class=FigureCanvasWxCairo)")
 class FigureFrameWxCairo(FigureFrameWx):
     def get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasWxCairo(self, -1, fig)
@@ -36,4 +39,3 @@ def draw(self, drawDC=None):
 @_BackendWx.export
 class _BackendWxCairo(_BackendWx):
     FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWxCairo
-    _frame_class = FigureFrameWxCairo