| Competition: | Nemzeti Bajnokság I |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Winners: | MTK Budapest |
| Relegated: | Tiszakécske Békéscsaba Stadler |
| Continentalcup1: | Champions League |
| Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | MTK Budapest |
| Continentalcup2: | UEFA Cup |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | Újpest Ferencváros |
| Continentalcup3: | Cup Winners' Cup |
| Continentalcup3 Qualifiers: | Budapesti VSC |
| Continentalcup4: | Intertoto Cup |
| Continentalcup4 Qualifiers: | Vasas |
| League Topscorer: | Béla Illés (23) |
| Biggest Home Win: | Csepel 9–1 Békéscsaba |
| Biggest Away Win: | III. Kerület 2–7 MTK |
| Highest Scoring: | III. Kerület 2–7 MTK Csepel 9–1 Békéscsaba |
| Matches: | 306 |
| Total Goals: | 842 |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
The 1996–97 Nemzeti Bajnokság I, also known as NB I, was the 95th season of top-tier football in Hungary. The season started on 10 August 1996 and ended on 28 May 1997.
It was contested by 18 teams, and MTK Hungária FC won the championship.
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| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Béla Illés | MTK Hungária | 23 | |
| 2 | Tamás Sándor | Debreceni VSC-Epona | 20 | |
| 3 | Zoltán Kovács | Újpesti TE | 18 | |
| 4 |  Nicolae Ilea | Debreceni VSC-Epona | 16 | |
| 5 |  Ihor Nichenko | Ferencvárosi TC | 15 | |
| 6 | Tibor Fodor | Újpest FC | 14 | |
| Ferenc Horváth | Ferencvárosi TC | 14 | ||
| Krisztián Kenesei | MTK Hungária | 14 | ||
| 9 | Károly Szanyó | Újpesti TE | 12 | |
| 10 | Mihály Tóth | Kispest Honvéd FC | 11 |