The 1996 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours on 30 June 1996. It was the ninth race of the 1996 Formula One World Championship.

The race was won by Briton Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault, after he started from second position. German Michael Schumacher took pole position in his Ferrari but failed to start the race after his engine blew on the warm-up lap, leaving Hill to lead from start to finish except for the pit stops. Hill's teammate, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who had crashed heavily at Estoril corner in qualifying, finished second, with local driver Jean Alesi third in a Benetton-Renault.