1896 (MDCCCXCVI in Roman numerals) is a leap year in the 19th century. 1896 in other calendars. Gregorian calendar, 1896.

6 April 1896: The first Olympic Games of the modern era opened in Athens, commissioned by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The last ones were held under the emperor Theodosius I who banned them in 393 due to an earthquake that had semi-destroyed Olympia and the intolerable corruption that distorted them.