The 1996 European Tour was the 25th official season of golf tournaments known as the PGA European Tour. The 1996 season saw co-sanctioning arrangements expand, with the PGA Tour of Australasia's Heineken Classic joining three Southern Africa Tour events on the schedule. The season was ultimately made up of 38 tournaments counting for the Order of Merit, and several non-counting "Approved Special Events". The Order of Merit was won by Scotland's Colin Montgomerie for the fourth consecutive year.