1995-96 was the 21st season that Division 1 operated as the second tier of ice hockey in Sweden, below the top-flight Elitserien (now the SHL).

Format 
Division 1 was divided into four starting groups of 10 teams each. The top two teams in each group qualified for the Allsvenskan, while the remaining eight teams had to compete in a qualifying round. The teams were given zero to seven bonus points based on their finish in the first round. The top two teams from each qualifying round qualified for the playoffs. The last-place team in each of the qualifying groups was relegated directly to Division 2, while the second-to-last-place team had to play in a relegation series.

Of the 10 teams in the Allsvenskan - in addition to the eight participants from Division 1, the two last place teams from the Elitserien also participated - the top two teams qualified directly for the Allsvenskan final, from which the winner was promoted directly to the Elitserien (now the SHL). The second place team qualified for the Kvalserien, which offered another opportunity to be promoted. The third and fourth place teams in the Allsvenskan qualified for the third round of the playoffs, while teams that finished fifth through eighth played in the second round. The three playoff winners qualified for the Kvalserien, in which the first-place team qualified for the following Elitserien season.

Regular season

Northern Group

First round

Qualification round

Western Group

First round

Qualification round

Eastern Group

First round

Qualification round

Southern Group

First round

Qualification round

Allsvenskan

Final 
 Brynäs IF - Södertälje SK 1:3 (4:2, 2:5, 3:4, 2:5)

Playoffs

First round 
 Timrå IK - Hammarby IF 2:1 (3:1, 4:5, 4:0)
 Arlanda HC - Bodens IK 2:0 (4:3, 4:3)
 Grums IK - Västerviks IK 2:0 (7:1, 3:0)
 Linköpings HC - Sunne IK 2:0 (8:5, 8:1)

Second round 
 Rögle BK - Timrå IK 2:1 (4:5 OT, 3:2 OT, 5:3)
 IF Troja-Ljungby - Linköpings HC 2:0 (5:2, 2:1)
 Huddinge IK - Arlanda HC 2:0 (3:2, 5:4)
 Mora IK - Grums IK 2:1 (4:3, 3:4 OT, 7:3)

Third round 
 IF Björklöven - Huddinge IK 2:0 (4:2, 4:3 OT)
 Kiruna IF - IF Troja-Ljungby 0:2 (2:3 OT, 2:3)
 Rögle BK - Mora IK 2:1 (4:3, 2:7, 8:4)

Elitserien promotion

External links 
Season on hockeyarchives.info

Swedish Division I seasons
Swed
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