Miss Universe 1996

Miss Universe 1996, the 45th Miss Universe pageant, was held on May 17, 1996 at Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Alicia Machado of Venezuela was crowned by Chelsi Smith from the USA at the end of the event. Seventy-nine contestants competed in 1996.

The pageant originally was scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. However, for financial reasons, South Africa couldn't host the pageant and Miss Universe was moved to Las Vegas.