| Competition: | Tippeligaen |
| Season: | 1996 |
| Winners: | Rosenborg 11th title |
| Relegated: | Moss Start Vålerenga |
| Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | Rosenborg |
| Continentalcup1: | Champions League |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | Lillestrøm Viking Brann |
| Continentalcup2: | UEFA Cup |
| Continentalcup3 Qualifiers: | Tromsø |
| Continentalcup3: | Cup Winners' Cup |
| Continentalcup4: | Intertoto Cup |
| Continentalcup4 Qualifiers: | Stabæk |
| Matches: | 182 |
| Total Goals: | 638 |
| Highest Scoring: | Rosenborg 10–0 Brann[1] (5 May 1996) |
| Biggest Home Win: | Rosenborg 10–0 Brann (5 May 1996) |
| Biggest Away Win: | Skeid 1–6 Brann (1 September 1996) |
| League Topscorer: | Harald Martin Brattbakk (28 goals) |
| Highest Attendance: | 23,071 Rosenborg 0–0 Moss (16 May 1996) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 909 Skeid 2–3 Start (13 October 1996) |
| Average Attendance: | 5,123 2.2% |
| Prevseason: | 1995 |
| Nextseason: | 1997 |
| Dates: | 13 April – 20 October |
The 1996 Tippeligaen was the 52nd completed season of top division football in Norway. Each team played 26 games with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number twelve, thirteen and fourteen are relegated. The winners of the two groups of the first division (second tier) are promoted, as well as the winner of a play-off match between the two second placed teams in the two groups of the first division. This was the last time the first division was organized into two groups – from 1997 and onwards the first division has had all teams play in the same league.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
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