1996–97 Division 1 season (Swedish ice hockey)

The 1996–97 Division 1 season was the second tier of Swedish ice hockey during that season. It consisted of multiple groups, with teams competing for promotion to Elitserien (now the Swedish Hockey League) and to avoid relegation to Division 2. The season involved a preliminary round where teams were divided into geographically-based groups. The top teams from these groups advanced to Allsvenskan, a league where they competed for promotion. The bottom teams had to participate in relegation rounds to maintain their place in Division 1 for the following season. Specific details regarding the number of teams per group, the promotion/relegation formats, and the participating teams can be found in available historical records of Swedish ice hockey.