1996

1996 was a leap year in the Gregorian calendar, beginning on a Monday and ending on a Tuesday. It contained 366 days, with February 29 as an extra day.

In world affairs, the United States held a presidential election in which incumbent Bill Clinton was reelected, defeating Republican challenger Bob Dole and receiving a substantial share of the vote alongside third-party participation by Ross Perot. The year also featured the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, held from July 19 to August 4, marking the centennial edition of the modern Olympics.

A number of high-profile events and tragedies drew international attention. In the United Kingdom, the Dunblane school massacre on March 13 prompted sweeping gun-control reforms. In Australia, the Port Arthur massacre on April 28 led to nationwide gun-law changes. The Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Atlanta Games occurred on July 27, killing two people and injuring many. Earlier that summer, TWA Flight 800 crashed off Long Island on July 17, killing all 230 people aboard.

In science and culture, Dolly the sheep—the first mammal cloned from an adult cell—was created at the Roslin Institute in Scotland in 1996. The year also saw major film releases, including Independence Day, The English Patient, Fargo, and Scream. In video gaming, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 in 1996 in Japan, with releases in other regions following later.

Overall, 1996 was characterized by significant political events, notable acts of violence that influenced policy, advances in science and entertainment, and notable milestones in media and technology.