The 1997 World Allround Speed Skating Championships were held on 14–16 February 1997 in the M-Wave stadium in Nagano, Japan.

Title defenders were the 1996 world champions Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann from Germany and Rintje Ritsma from the Netherlands.

Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann from Germany and Ids Postma from the Netherlands became world champions.

bold signifies championship record.

bold signifies championship record.