The 1996 IIHF European Women Championships were held between March 12 - March 29, 1996. The format remained unchanged from the previous year, with promoted Russia replacing Denmark who were relegated from the 1995 tournament The Pool A tournament was held in Yaroslavl, Russia, while Pool B took place in Trnava and Piešťany in Slovakia. The tournament was the final European Championship ever to be held, with the IIHF revamping the World Championships to create the multiple divisions that still exist today.