The 30th World Cup season began in November 1995 in Tignes, France, and concluded in March 1996 at the World Cup finals in Lillehammer, Norway. The overall champions were Lasse Kjus of Norway and Katja Seizinger of Germany, the first of two overall titles for both.
The World Cup schedule was realigned for the 1995–96 season, with the North American events moved to the early part of the season, in late November and early December. Previously, these races in Canada and the United States were scheduled near the end of the season, in late February and early March.
A break in the schedule was for the 1996 World Championships, held 12–25 February in southern Spain at Sierra Nevada. These championships were originally scheduled for 1995, but were postponed due to a lack of snow.