The men's coxed four competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Australia.

[2] Italy had previously won this event in 1928, tying Switzerland for second-most wins among nations.

Sweden (silver) and Finland (bronze) each won their first medal in the men's coxed four.

Switzerland had its three-Games silver-medal streak broken, without a Swiss crew competing.

[3] The competition venue had five lanes, but the organising committee had restricted races to four teams.

This allowed for changing wind conditions, where the most affected lane could be left unused.