| Election Name: | 1856 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Massachusetts |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Previous Election: | 1855 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1855 |
| Next Election: | 1857 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1857 |
| Image1: | GovHenryJGardner.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Henry J. Gardner |
| Party1: | Know Nothing |
| Alliance1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 92,467 |
| Percentage1: | 58.92% |
| Nominee2: | Erasmus Beach |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 40,082 |
| Percentage2: | 25.54% |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | George W. Gordon |
| Party3: | Know Nothing |
| Popular Vote3: | 10,385 |
| Percentage3: | 6.62% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Henry J. Gardner |
| Before Party: | Know Nothing |
| After Election: | Henry J. Gardner |
| After Party: | Know Nothing |
The 1856 Massachusetts gubernatorial election on November 4. Incumbent Know-Nothing Governor Henry J. Gardner was re-elected to a third term. He benefited greatly from a deal with the state's new Republican Party, which agreed not to field a candidate in exchange for Gardner's support of presidential nominee John C. Frémont. With no serious challenger in the field against him, Gardner easily defeated Democrat Erasmus Beach and George W. Gordon, an American Party member running in support of the national ticket.
This was the last election in which the Whig Party participated.
The American Party convention was held at Faneuil Hall, Boston, on July 24, 1856.