The World Chess Championship 1896–1897 was a match for the World Chess Championship, contested between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz.

It was played in Moscow between November 6, 1896, and January 14, 1897.

Lasker won by a score of 10 wins to 2 (with 5 draws), thus retaining his title.

At the Saint Petersburg 1895–96 chess tournament, Steinitz came second behind Lasker, ahead of other potential challengers Harry Nelson Pillsbury and Mikhail Chigorin.

This allowed Steinitz to raise support for a rematch.