The 1996–97 DFB-Pokal was the 54th season of the annual German football cup competition.
Sixty-four teams competed in the tournament of six rounds which began on 9 August 1996 and ended on 16 June 1997.
In the final, VfB Stuttgart defeated third tier Energie Cottbus 2–0, thereby claiming their third title.
[1] Times up to 26 October 1996 and from 30 March 1997 are CEST (UTC+2).
Times from 27 October 1996 to 29 March 1997 are CET (UTC+1).