1996–97 Cypriot First Division

The 1996–97 Cypriot First Division was the 58th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Anorthosis won their 8th title.

Format
Fourteen teams participated in the 1996–97 Cypriot First Division. All teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions. The last three teams were relegated to the 1997–98 Cypriot Second Division.

The champions ensured their participation in the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League and the runners-up in the 1997–98 UEFA Cup.

The teams had to declare their interest to participate in the 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup before the end of the championship. At the end of the championship, the higher placed team among the interested ones participated in the Intertoto Cup (if they had not secured their participation in any other UEFA competition).

Point system
Teams received three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.

Changes from previous season
AEL Limassol, Evagoras Paphos and Omonia Aradippou were relegated from previous season and played in the 1996–97 Cypriot Second Division. They were replaced by the first three teams of the 1995–96 Cypriot Second Division, APOP Paphos. APEP and Anagennisi Deryneia.