The Women's 1500 metres competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was held at the Olympic Stadium on 26–30 July.

[1] The Women's 1500m competition consisted of heats (Round 1), Semifinals and a Final.

The four fastest competitors from each of the Semifinal races plus the next fastest overall advanced to the Final.

Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.

rule: first 4 of each heat (Q) plus the next two fastest times (q) qualified.