The competition began on 10 November 2012 and was scheduled to conclude in June 2013.
The defending champions from the previous season were Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
[1] Last season two teams were relegated as usual (AS Gabès and ES Beni-Khalled), with two teams promoted from the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 2 to replace them (Olympique du Kef and Stade Gabèsien).
However, in a change from previous seasons, the league was split into two groups of 8 teams.
[2] ES Zarzis Relegated to 2013–14 Tunisian Ligue 2