diff --git a/galleries/examples/misc/custom_projection.py b/galleries/examples/misc/custom_projection.py
index e63ba8771ee1..a6e7648d62a1 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/misc/custom_projection.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/misc/custom_projection.py
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ def _get_core_transform(self, resolution):
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
     # Now make a simple example using the custom projection.
-    fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'projection': 'custom_hammer'})
+    ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="custom_hammer")
     ax.plot([-1, 1, 1], [-1, -1, 1], "o-")
     ax.grid()
 
diff --git a/galleries/examples/mplot3d/custom_shaded_3d_surface.py b/galleries/examples/mplot3d/custom_shaded_3d_surface.py
index 677bfa179a83..d4c51481b750 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/mplot3d/custom_shaded_3d_surface.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/mplot3d/custom_shaded_3d_surface.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 x, y, z = x[region], y[region], z[region]
 
 # Set up plot
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection='3d'))
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 
 ls = LightSource(270, 45)
 # To use a custom hillshading mode, override the built-in shading and pass
diff --git a/galleries/examples/mplot3d/stem3d_demo.py b/galleries/examples/mplot3d/stem3d_demo.py
index 6f1773c1b505..bbe363299649 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/mplot3d/stem3d_demo.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/mplot3d/stem3d_demo.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 y = np.sin(theta - np.pi/2)
 z = theta
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection='3d'))
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.stem(x, y, z)
 
 plt.show()
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 # configurable via keyword arguments. For more advanced control adapt the line
 # objects returned by `~mpl_toolkits.mplot3d.axes3d.Axes3D.stem`.
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection='3d'))
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 markerline, stemlines, baseline = ax.stem(
     x, y, z, linefmt='grey', markerfmt='D', bottom=np.pi)
 markerline.set_markerfacecolor('none')
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 # For examples, by setting ``orientation='x'``, the stems are projected along
 # the *x*-direction, and the baseline is in the *yz*-plane.
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection='3d'))
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 markerline, stemlines, baseline = ax.stem(x, y, z, bottom=-1, orientation='x')
 ax.set(xlabel='x', ylabel='y', zlabel='z')
 
diff --git a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/polar_demo.py b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/polar_demo.py
index 75a7d61f6244..66844281615c 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/polar_demo.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/polar_demo.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 r = np.arange(0, 2, 0.01)
 theta = 2 * np.pi * r
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'projection': 'polar'})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="polar")
 ax.plot(theta, r)
 ax.set_rmax(2)
 ax.set_rticks([0.5, 1, 1.5, 2])  # Less radial ticks
diff --git a/galleries/examples/shapes_and_collections/ellipse_demo.py b/galleries/examples/shapes_and_collections/ellipse_demo.py
index 22de6998418d..0d7e72a1100d 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/shapes_and_collections/ellipse_demo.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/shapes_and_collections/ellipse_demo.py
@@ -22,16 +22,15 @@
                 angle=np.random.rand() * 360)
         for i in range(NUM)]
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'aspect': 'equal'})
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ax.set(xlim=(0, 10), ylim=(0, 10), aspect="equal")
+
 for e in ells:
     ax.add_artist(e)
     e.set_clip_box(ax.bbox)
     e.set_alpha(np.random.rand())
     e.set_facecolor(np.random.rand(3))
 
-ax.set_xlim(0, 10)
-ax.set_ylim(0, 10)
-
 plt.show()
 
 # %%
@@ -45,15 +44,13 @@
 angle_step = 45  # degrees
 angles = np.arange(0, 180, angle_step)
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'aspect': 'equal'})
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ax.set(xlim=(-2.2, 2.2), ylim=(-2.2, 2.2), aspect="equal")
 
 for angle in angles:
     ellipse = Ellipse((0, 0), 4, 2, angle=angle, alpha=0.1)
     ax.add_artist(ellipse)
 
-ax.set_xlim(-2.2, 2.2)
-ax.set_ylim(-2.2, 2.2)
-
 plt.show()
 
 # %%
diff --git a/galleries/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/annotation_demo.py b/galleries/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/annotation_demo.py
index 8b310a7a1865..186f422f50d4 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/annotation_demo.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/annotation_demo.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 # The text in the example is placed in the fractional figure coordinate system.
 # Text keyword arguments like horizontal and vertical alignment are respected.
 
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=dict(projection='polar'), figsize=(3, 3))
+ax = plt.figure(figsize=(3, 3)).add_subplot(projection='polar')
 r = np.arange(0, 1, 0.001)
 theta = 2*2*np.pi*r
 line, = ax.plot(theta, r)
diff --git a/galleries/examples/widgets/lasso_selector_demo_sgskip.py b/galleries/examples/widgets/lasso_selector_demo_sgskip.py
index fd2459be4f4f..628012ea4527 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/widgets/lasso_selector_demo_sgskip.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/widgets/lasso_selector_demo_sgskip.py
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ def disconnect(self):
 
     data = np.random.rand(100, 2)
 
-    subplot_kw = dict(xlim=(0, 1), ylim=(0, 1), autoscale_on=False)
-    fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw=subplot_kw)
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ax.set(xlim=(0, 1), ylim=(0, 1))
 
     pts = ax.scatter(data[:, 0], data[:, 1], s=80)
     selector = SelectFromCollection(ax, pts)
diff --git a/galleries/plot_types/3D/scatter3d_simple.py b/galleries/plot_types/3D/scatter3d_simple.py
index 27ffb6abf748..d2d5e9c063e8 100644
--- a/galleries/plot_types/3D/scatter3d_simple.py
+++ b/galleries/plot_types/3D/scatter3d_simple.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 zs = rng.uniform(-50, -25, n)
 
 # Plot
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={"projection": "3d"})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.scatter(xs, ys, zs)
 
 ax.set(xticklabels=[],
diff --git a/galleries/plot_types/3D/surface3d_simple.py b/galleries/plot_types/3D/surface3d_simple.py
index 04f74d5edd14..f9a856c072d4 100644
--- a/galleries/plot_types/3D/surface3d_simple.py
+++ b/galleries/plot_types/3D/surface3d_simple.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 Z = np.sin(R)
 
 # Plot the surface
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={"projection": "3d"})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.plot_surface(X, Y, Z, vmin=Z.min() * 2, cmap=cm.Blues)
 
 ax.set(xticklabels=[],
diff --git a/galleries/plot_types/3D/trisurf3d_simple.py b/galleries/plot_types/3D/trisurf3d_simple.py
index b32bd3ebc69a..23da644e708e 100644
--- a/galleries/plot_types/3D/trisurf3d_simple.py
+++ b/galleries/plot_types/3D/trisurf3d_simple.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 z = np.sin(-x*y)
 
 # Plot
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'projection': '3d'})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.plot_trisurf(x, y, z, vmin=z.min() * 2, cmap=cm.Blues)
 
 ax.set(xticklabels=[],
diff --git a/galleries/plot_types/3D/voxels_simple.py b/galleries/plot_types/3D/voxels_simple.py
index 05ce238b0935..eb3f93bee824 100644
--- a/galleries/plot_types/3D/voxels_simple.py
+++ b/galleries/plot_types/3D/voxels_simple.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 voxelarray = cube1 | cube2
 
 # Plot
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={"projection": "3d"})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.voxels(voxelarray, edgecolor='k')
 
 ax.set(xticklabels=[],
diff --git a/galleries/plot_types/3D/wire3d_simple.py b/galleries/plot_types/3D/wire3d_simple.py
index 1ab847f3ecf4..5141950a25f8 100644
--- a/galleries/plot_types/3D/wire3d_simple.py
+++ b/galleries/plot_types/3D/wire3d_simple.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
 # Plot
-fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={"projection": "3d"})
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection="3d")
 ax.plot_wireframe(X, Y, Z, rstride=10, cstride=10)
 
 ax.set(xticklabels=[],