diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index 66aed1371e8a..2122562758c2 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -529,6 +529,8 @@ def resize(self, width, height):
 
     def show(self):
         self.window.show()
+        self.window.activateWindow()
+        self.window.raise_()
 
     def destroy(self, *args):
         # check for qApp first, as PySide deletes it in its atexit handler