| Date: | 24 June – 7 July |
| Edition: | 110th |
| Category: | Grand Slam (ITF) |
| Draw: | 128S/64D/64XD |
| Prize Money: | £6,465,910 |
| Surface: | Grass |
| Location: | Church Road SW19, Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom |
| Venue: | All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club |
| Champms: | Richard Krajicek |
| Champws: | Steffi Graf |
| Champmd: |  Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde |
| Champwd: | Martina Hingis /  Helena Suková |
| Champxd: | Cyril Suk / Helena Suková |
| Champbs: |  Vladimir Voltchkov |
| Champgs: |  Amélie Mauresmo |
| Champbd: |  Daniele Bracciali /  Jocelyn Robichaud |
| Champml: |  Wojciech Fibak /  Tim Wilkison |
| Champwl: |  Jo Durie / Anne Smith |
| Champsl: | John Alexander / Sherwood Stewart |
The 1996 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London in the United Kingdom.[1] [2] It was the 110th edition of the Wimbledon Championships and was held from 24 June to 7 July 1996.
When rain interrupted play on Centre Court on 3 July with a crowd that included Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent and actress Joanna Lumley,[3] Cliff Richard, who was watching from the royal box, was approached by court officials for an interview. They suggested that he sing a song or two to entertain the crowd.[4] With approval from his PR manager Richard proceeded to give an impromptu performance, starting with "Summer Holiday".[5]
The performance ran for twenty minutes and consisted of Richard's hits such as "Living Doll" and "Congratulations", as well as the Elvis Presley hit "All Shook Up".[5] Past tennis stars Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlíková, Pam Shriver, Liz Smylie, Gigi Fernández and Conchita Martínez were in the Royal Box and proceeded to join in as background singers.[3] [5]
Richard was not aware that his performance was televised by the BBC, and after six songs presenter Des Lynam jokingly claimed "we'll probably get one hell of a bill." The performance made the front pages in many major British newspapers on the following day. Since a retractable roof was completed on Centre Court in 2009 such a performance is unlikely to happen again.[6]
During the entrance of the court staff for the Men's Singles final, the court was briefly invaded by a streaker.[7]
The total prize money for 1996 championships was £6,465,910. The winner of the men's title earned £392,500 while the women's singles champion earned £353,000.[8] [9]
| Event | W | F | SF | QF | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 64 | Round of 128 | |
| Men's singles | £392,500 | ||||||||
| Women's singles | £353,000 | ||||||||
| Men's doubles * | £160,810 | ||||||||
| £139,040 | |||||||||
| Mixed doubles * | £68,280 |
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles. Richard Krajicek defeated MaliVai Washington, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3[10]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles. Steffi Graf defeated 
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 6–3, 7–5[11]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Men's doubles. Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde defeated Byron Black / Grant Connell, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–2[12]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles. Martina Hingis / Helena Suková defeated Meredith McGrath / Larisa Neiland, 5–7, 7–5, 6–1[13]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles. Cyril Suk / Helena Suková defeated Mark Woodforde / Larisa Neiland, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2[14]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Boys' singles. Vladimir Voltchkov defeated Ivan Ljubičić, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3[15]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Girls' singles. Amélie Mauresmo defeated Magüi Serna, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4[16]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Boys' doubles. Daniele Bracciali / Jocelyn Robichaud defeated Damien Roberts / Wesley Whitehouse, 6–2, 6–4[17]
See main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Girls' doubles. Olga Barabanschikova / Amélie Mauresmo defeated Lilia Osterloh / Samantha Reeves, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1[18]
Wojciech Fibak / Tim Wilkison defeated Pavel Složil / Tomáš Šmíd, 6–2, 5–7, 6–1
Jo Durie / Anne Smith defeated Mima Jaušovec / Yvonne Vermaak, 6–3, 6–2
John Alexander / Phil Dent defeated Marty Riessen / Sherwood Stewart, 7–6, 6–2
Pete Sampras (quarterfinals, lost to Richard Krajicek) Andre Agassi (first round, lost to Doug Flach)
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (first round, lost to Tim Henman) Michael Chang (first round, lost to Albert Costa)
Thomas Muster (withdrew before the tournament began) Jim Courier (first round, lost to Jonathan Stark)
Thomas Enqvist (second round, lost to MaliVai Washington) Stefan Edberg (second round, lost to Mikael Tillström) Todd Martin (semifinals, lost to MaliVai Washington) Arnaud Boetsch (first round, lost to Alex Rădulescu) Cédric Pioline (fourth round, lost to Pete Sampras) Monica Seles (second round, lost to Katarína Studeníková) Conchita Martínez (quarterfinals, lost to Kimiko Date) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (final, lost to Steffi Graf) Jana Novotná (quarterfinals, lost to Steffi Graf) Chanda Rubin (withdrew before the tournament began) Lindsay Davenport (second round, lost to Larisa Neiland) Mary Joe Fernández (quarterfinals, lost to Meredith McGrath)
Kimiko Date (semifinals, lost to Steffi Graf) Mary Pierce (quarterfinals, lost to Kimiko Date)
Karina Habšudová (first round, lost to Judith Wiesner)