The men's eight competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia took place at Lake Lanier.

[2] Of the 10 nations competing, five had won medals in top-level competition in the last four years.

Canada was the reigning Olympic champion, though it had not been on a World Championship podium since.

Germany, the 1992 Olympic bronze winners, had taken gold at the 1993 and 1995 World Championships.

The competition consisted of two main rounds (semifinals and finals) as well as a repechage.