The 1976 New York Cosmos season was the sixth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

In the Cosmos' sixth year of existence the club finished second only to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in both the five-team Eastern Division and the 20-team league.

The Cosmos returned to the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the rival Rowdies.

1976 marked the first year for Giorgio Chinaglia with the club; Chinaglia would go on to become the all-time leading scorer in both Cosmos and NASL history.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.