The 1996 Galway Senior Hurling Championship was the 99th completed staging of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Galway County Board in 1887.
Sarsfields entered the championship as the defending champions.
The final was played on 1 December 1996 at Kenny Park in Athenry, between Athenry and Carnmore, in what was their first ever meeting in the final. Athenry won the match by 2âÂÂ06 to 1âÂÂ06 to claim their third championship title overall and a first title in two years.