The 1976 UEFA European Under-23 Championship, which spanned two years (1974–76) had 23 entrants.

Soviet Union U-23 won the competition.

The group winners played off against each other on a two-legged home-and-away basis until the winner was decided.

There was no finals tournament or 3rd-place playoff.

The allocation of teams into qualifying groups was based on that of UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying tournament with several changes, reflecting the absence of some nations: England qualify as group winners Hungary qualify as group winners Yugoslavia qualify as group winners Scotland qualify as group winners Netherlands qualify as group winners Soviet Union qualify as group winners France qualify as group winners Bulgaria qualify as group winners Quarter-finals 2-2:  Netherlands win 4-3 on penalties Hungary win 4-3 on aggregate 3-3:  Soviet Union win 4-2 on penalties Yugoslavia win 5-3 on aggregate Semi-finals Hungary win 4-3 on aggregate Soviet Union win 3-1 on aggregate Final Soviet Union win 3-2 on aggregate Soviet Union finish as Champions