Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position.
The four group winners and the four runners-up then contested a play-off for the two promotion slots.
The decider for second position in the table was played 21 May 1996 in Stadio Comunale Bellinzona.
AC Bellinzona win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
FC Gossau win 4–0 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.
[4] The first round in the play-outs were played on 25 May as single legged semi-finals on neutral grounds.