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 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.