The men's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics was held in Sydney, Australia, at International Athletic Centre on 22 and 24 August.
| Gold | Julius Chelule | |
| Silver | Kipkirui Misoi | |
| Bronze | Ali Ezzine |
24 August
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | align=left | | 8:33.09 | ||||
| align=left | align=left | | 8:33.31 | ||||
| align=left | align=left | | 8:35.60 | ||||
| 4 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:38.97 | |||
| 5 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:41.98 | |||
| 6 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:42.37 | |||
| 7 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:45.85 | |||
| 8 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:46.74 | |||
| 9 | align=left | align=left | 8:47.46 | ||||
| 10 | align=left | align=left | 8:59.52 | ||||
| 11 | align=left | align=left | 9:01.14 | ||||
| 12 | align=left | align=left | | 9:06.70 |
22 August
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | align=left | align=left | | 8:48.44 | Q | ||
| 2 | align=left | align=left | | 8:49.06 | Q | ||
| 3 | align=left | align=left | 8:51.36 | Q | |||
| 4 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:55.84 | |||
| 5 | align=left | align=left | 8:56.53 | ||||
| 6 | align=left | align=left |  | 8:56.93 | |||
| 7 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:11.11 | |||
| 8 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:12.03 | |||
| 9 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:12.25 | |||
| 10 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:20.86 | |||
| 11 | align=left | align=left | 9:34.29 |
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | align=left | align=left | | 8:46.22 | Q | ||
| 2 | align=left | align=left | | 8:46.61 | Q | ||
| 3 | align=left | align=left | | 8:50.68 | Q | ||
| 4 | align=left | align=left | | 8:53.63 | q | ||
| 5 | align=left | align=left | | 9:01.61 | |||
| 6 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:05.05 | |||
| 7 | align=left | align=left | | 9:09.69 | |||
| 8 | align=left | align=left | | 9:12.95 | |||
| 9 | align=left | align=left | | 9:18.03 | |||
| 10 | align=left | align=left | 9:32.33 | ||||
| 11 | align=left | align=left | 9:38.09 |
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | align=left | align=left | | 8:44.39 | Q | ||
| 2 | align=left | align=left | | 8:44.52 | Q | ||
| 3 | align=left | align=left | 8:44.98 | Q | |||
| 4 | align=left | align=left | 8:45.55 | q | |||
| 5 | align=left | align=left | | 8:50.55 | q | ||
| 6 | align=left | align=left | | 8:56.30 | |||
| 7 | align=left | align=left | | 8:57.88 | |||
| 8 | align=left | align=left | 9:04.40 | ||||
| 9 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:07.89 | |||
| 10 | align=left | align=left | | 9:14.86 | |||
| 11 | align=left | align=left |  | 9:37.01 |
According to an unofficial count, 33 athletes from 21 countries participated in the event.