1996 Belarusian First League was the sixth season of 2nd level football championship in Belarus.
They were replaced by the lowest-placed team of 1995 Premier League (FC Bobruisk).
Khimvolokno Grodno, who finished 15th, relegated to the Second League, but were disbanded before the start of 1996 season.
In June, after 8th matchday, Fomalgaut Borisov and Kimovets Vitebsk withdrew from the league and disbanded.
No team initially relegated to the Second League as the league was expanded to 16 teams in 1997, although Kobrin withdrew to amateur lever before the start of the next season due to financial troubles.