The 1996–97 Regionalliga was the third season of the Regionalliga as the third tier of German football.
The league was organised in four regional divisions, Nord, Nordost, West-Südwest and Süd.
FC Energie Cottbus, SG Wattenscheid 09, 1.
FC Nürnberg and SpVgg Greuther Fürth were promoted to the 2.
The last promotion place was contested between the champions of the North and North-East regions.