Broadway opened just 40 shows in 1996, but the ones that did open stayed: half of those runs lasted 60.5 performances or more.
1996
47 shows opened on Broadway and in the West End in 1996.
Chicago opened November 14, 1996 at Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran 9,999 performances.
Apollo Theatre closed.
Jane Street Theatre opened.
Opened in 1996
UndatedJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Undated: 6 openings
| Unknown | Floyd Collins Off, Broadway | |
| Unknown | Jesus Christ Superstar Lyceum Theatre, London | |
| Unknown | Nine , London | |
| Unknown | Plantamura Carol The Opera Lover's Guide to Europe New York Citadel Press Theatre Royal Haymarket, London | |
| Unknown | Scrooge Dominion Theatre, London | |
| Unknown | Smokey Joe's Cafe Prince of Wales Theatre, London |
January: 2 openings
| January 7, 1995 | Passion Sondheim Theatre, London | |
| January 11, 1996 | The Father Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway | 52 perf. |
February: 1 opening
| February 22, 1996 | Bus Stop Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 29 perf. |
March: 6 openings
| March 17, 1996 | Getting Away With Murder Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | 17 perf. |
| March 21, 1996 | The Night of the Iguana Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway | 69 perf. |
| March 24, 1996 | Love Thy Neighbor Booth Theatre, Broadway | 234 perf. |
| March 27, 1996 | State Fair Music Box Theatre, Broadway | 110 perf. |
| March 28, 1996 | Seven Guitars Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway | 188 perf. |
| March 31, 1996 | A Midsummer Night's Dream Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 65 perf. |
April: 11 openings
| April 4, 1996 | Inherit the Wind Royale Theatre, Broadway | 45 perf. |
| April 11, 1996 | The King and I Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway | 780 perf. |
| April 14, 1996 | The Apple Doesn't Fall... Lyceum Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
| April 18, 1996 | A Funny Thing... Forum (1996 Revival) St. James Theatre, Broadway | 715 perf. |
| April 18, 1996 | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum St James Theatre, Broadway | 715 perf. |
| April 21, 1996 | A Delicate Balance Plymouth Theatre, Broadway | 185 perf. |
| April 24, 1996 | Jack: A Night on the Town with John Barrymore Belasco Theatre, Broadway | 12 perf. |
| April 25, 1996 | Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | 1,135 perf. |
| April 28, 1996 | Big Shubert Theatre, Broadway | 193 perf. |
| April 29, 1996 | Rent Nederlander Theatre, Broadway | 5,123 perf. |
| April 30, 1996 | Buried Child Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway | 72 perf. |
May: 2 openings
| May 1, 1996 | An Ideal Husband Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway | 307 perf. |
| May 30, 1996 | Tartuffe Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 29 perf. |
July: 1 opening
| July 14, 1996 | A Thousand Clowns Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway | 32 perf. |
August: 1 opening
| August 22, 1996 | Hughie Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 56 perf. |
September: 3 openings
| September 5, 1996 | Summer and Smoke Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway | 53 perf. |
| September 19, 1996 | Skylight Royale Theatre, Broadway | 116 perf. |
| September 20, 1996 | Bug , London |
October: 2 openings
| October 10, 1996 | Sex and Longing Cort Theatre, Broadway | 46 perf. |
| October 17, 1996 | Taking Sides Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway | 85 perf. |
November: 9 openings
| November 7, 1996 | The Three Sisters Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 5 perf. |
| November 10, 1996 | It's a Slippery Slope Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway | 17 perf. |
| November 14, 1996 | Chicago Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway | 9,999 perf. |
| November 15, 1996 | Into the Whirlwind Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 3 perf. |
| November 17, 1996 | Angela Lansbury - A Celebration Majestic Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
| November 18, 1996 | Present Laughter Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway | 175 perf. |
| November 19, 1996 | Julia Sweeney's God Said "Ha!" Lyceum Theatre, Broadway | 22 perf. |
| November 21, 1996 | The Rehearsal Criterion Center Stage Right, Broadway | 55 perf. |
| November 24, 1996 | Juan Darien Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway | 49 perf. |
December: 3 openings
| December 5, 1996 | David Copperfield: Dreams and Nightmares Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway | 55 perf. |
| December 12, 1996 | Whistle Down the Wind National Theatre, Washington, D.C. (never reached Broadway), Broadway | |
| December 19, 1996 | Once Upon A Mattress Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | 188 perf. |
Closed in 1996
| January 7, 1996 | Crazy for You Shubert Theatre, opened 1992 | 1,622 run |
| January 7, 1996 | Fool Moon Ambassador Theatre, opened 1995 | 81 run |
| January 13, 1996 | Swinging on a Star Music Box Theatre, opened 1995 | 96 run |
| January 14, 1996 | Holiday Circle In The Square Theatre, opened 1995 | 50 run |
| January 28, 1996 | Hello, Dolly! Lunt Fontanne Theatre, opened 1995 | 116 run |
| June 30, 1996 | Moon Over Buffalo Martin Beck Theatre, opened 1995 | 309 run |
| July 14, 1996 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying , opened 1995 | 548 run |