This is a list of the European Music & Media magazine's European Hot 100 Singles and European Top 100 Albums number-ones of 1996.
| Issue Date | Song | Artist | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 January | "Gangsta's Paradise" | Coolio featuring L.V. | Made in Heaven | Queen |
| 13 January | ||||
| 20 January | "Earth Song" | Michael Jackson | ||
| 27 January | "Gangsta's Paradise" | Coolio featuring L.V. | ||
| 3 February | ||||
| 10 February | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | Oasis | ||
| 17 February | ||||
| 24 February | "Spaceman" | Babylon Zoo | ||
| 2 March | ||||
| 9 March | ||||
| 16 March | ||||
| 23 March | "Children" | Robert Miles | ||
| 30 March | Mercury Falling | Sting | ||
| 6 April | ||||
| 13 April | Falling Into You | Celine Dion | ||
| 20 April | Greatest Hits | Take That | ||
| 27 April | ||||
| 4 May | ||||
| 11 May | ||||
| 18 May | To the Faithful Departed | The Cranberries | ||
| 25 May | ||||
| 1 June | Older | George Michael | ||
| 8 June | ||||
| 15 June | ||||
| 22 June | "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" | Los Del Rio | ||
| 29 June | Load | Metallica | ||
| 6 July | ||||
| 13 July | ||||
| 20 July | "Killing Me Softly" | Fugees | ||
| 27 July | The Score | Fugees | ||
| 3 August | ||||
| 10 August | ||||
| 17 August | ||||
| 24 August | ||||
| 31 August | Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | ||
| 7 September | ||||
| 14 September | "Wannabe" | Spice Girls | ||
| 21 September | ||||
| 28 September | New Adventures in Hi-Fi | R.E.M. | ||
| 5 October | ||||
| 12 October | ||||
| 19 October | ||||
| 26 October | ||||
| 2 November | Greatest Hits | Simply Red | ||
| 9 November | Dance Into the Light | Phil Collins | ||
| 16 November | "Say You'll Be There" | |||
| 23 November | ||||
| 30 November | "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" | Backstreet Boys | Greatest Hits | Simply Red |
| 7 December | "Breathe" | The Prodigy | Spice | Spice Girls |
| 14 December | ||||
| 21 December | ||||
| 28 December | "One & One" | Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler | ||