The 1996 Torneo Descentralizado was the 81st season of the top category of Peruvian football.
The first stage of the season was played as a double round-robin tournament.
Sporting Cristal as champions qualified for the 1997 Copa Libertadores.
Alianza Lima directly advanced to the end-of-season Liguilla and received a bonus point for placing second.
Universitario, Deportivo Pesquero, and Cienciano qualified for the Liguilla.