| Election Name: | 1896 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 1892 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1892 |
| Next Election: | 1900 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1900 |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1896 |
| Nominee1: | George W. Atkinson |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 105,588 |
| Percentage1: | 52.41% |
| Nominee2: | Cornelius Clarkson Watts |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 93,558 |
| Percentage2: | 46.44 |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | William A. MacCorkle |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | George W. Atkinson |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1896 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1896, to elect the governor of West Virginia.