diff --git a/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/18226-ES.rst b/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/18226-ES.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index c6247737f662..000000000000
--- a/doc/api/next_api_changes/behavior/18226-ES.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-Widgets use ``CallbackRegistry`` to save callbacks
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-`.Widget`\s with event observers now use a `.CallbackRegistry` for storing
-callbacks. This is consistent with canvas event callbacks, and fixes some bugs
-in widget callback handling.
-
-Due to this change, callback methods are now stored as weak references, which
-means you must keep a reference to the associated object. Otherwise it may be
-garbage collected.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
index 967ef30f1771..788865d98d86 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def on_clicked(self, func):
 
         Returns a connection id, which can be used to disconnect the callback.
         """
-        return self._observers.connect('clicked', func)
+        return self._observers.connect('clicked', lambda event: func(event))
 
     def disconnect(self, cid):
         """Remove the callback function with connection id *cid*."""
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ def on_changed(self, func):
         int
             Connection id (which can be used to disconnect *func*)
         """
-        return self._observers.connect('changed', func)
+        return self._observers.connect('changed', lambda val: func(val))
 
     def disconnect(self, cid):
         """
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ def on_clicked(self, func):
 
         Returns a connection id, which can be used to disconnect the callback.
         """
-        return self._observers.connect('clicked', func)
+        return self._observers.connect('clicked', lambda text: func(text))
 
     def disconnect(self, cid):
         """Remove the observer with connection id *cid*."""
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ def on_text_change(self, func):
 
         A connection id is returned which can be used to disconnect.
         """
-        return self._observers.connect('change', func)
+        return self._observers.connect('change', lambda text: func(text))
 
     def on_submit(self, func):
         """
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ def on_submit(self, func):
 
         A connection id is returned which can be used to disconnect.
         """
-        return self._observers.connect('submit', func)
+        return self._observers.connect('submit', lambda text: func(text))
 
     def disconnect(self, cid):
         """Remove the observer with connection id *cid*."""