1996–97 Meistriliiga

The 1996–97 Meistriliiga was the sixth season of the Meistriliiga, Estonia's premier football league. Lantana won their second title.

Championship Tournament
The points obtained during the preliminary round were carried over halved and rounded up.

Meistriliiga Transition Tournament
Eesti Põlevkivi Jõhvi and PVall, the teams finishing in the last two positions in the preliminary round, faced four best teams of the 1996-97 Esiliiga in the play-off for two places in the 1997-98 Meistriliiga.