The 1996–97 UEFA Cup was the 26th season of the UEFA Cup, the third-tier club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

It was won by German side Schalke 04, who beat Internazionale of Italy on penalties after the two-legged final finished 1–1 on aggregate.

Defending champions Bayern Munich were eliminated in the first round by Valencia.

This was the last year in which the UEFA Cup final was played in a two-legged, home-and-away format.

From 1998, the final was played as a single match at a neutral venue.

According to 1995 UEFA ranking, Bulgaria ceded a slot to Norway.

The access list was finally increased to 117 clubs: A second qualifying round was consequently added for the first time in the history of the European competitions.

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round: Dinamo Tbilisi won 6–2 on aggregate.

Barry Town won 2–1 on aggregate.

Dinamo Minsk won on away goals.

Legia Warsaw won 7–2 on aggregate.

Lokomotiv Sofia won 7–2 on aggregate.

Dynamo Moscow won 4–2 on aggregate.

Legia Warsaw won 4–1 on aggregate.

CSKA Moscow won 6–1 on aggregate.

Barry Town won 4–2 on penalties.

Național București won 1–0 on aggregate.

Spartak Moscow won on away goals.

Torpedo Moscow won 2–1 on aggregate.

Slavia Prague won 5–2 on aggregate.

Național București won 2–0 on aggregate.

Club Brugge won 3–1 on aggregate.

Spartak Moscow won 5–3 on aggregate.

Legia Warsaw won on away goals.

Club Brugge won 3–1 on aggregate.

The top scorers from the 1996–97 UEFA Cup are as follows: