The 23rd Daytime Emmy Awards' were held in 1996 to commemorate excellence in daytime programming from the previous year (1995). At this ceremony, Erika Slezak set a then record with five Emmy Awards for Lead Actress. She would beat her own record in 2005.

Winners in each category are in bold.

Outstanding Drama Series

• All My Children
• Days of our Lives
• General Hospital
• The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos, General Hospital)
• Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, The Young and the Restless)
• Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, The Young and the Restless)
• David Canary (Adam Chandler/Stuart Chandler, All My Children)
• Charles Keating (Carl Hutchins, Another World)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Jensen Buchanan (Vicky Hudson, Another World)
• Linda Dano (Felicia Gallant, Another World)
• Susan Lucci (Erica Kane, All My Children)
• Erika Slezak (Viki Buchanan, One Life to Live)
• Jess Walton (Jill Abbott, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Frank Beaty (Brent Lawrence, Guiding Light)
• Ian Buchanan (James Warwick, The Bold and the Beautiful)
• Stuart Damon (Alan Quartermaine, General Hospital)
• David Forsyth (John Hudson, Another World)
• Michael Sutton (Stone Cates, General Hospital)
• Jerry ver Dorn (Ross Marler, Guiding Light)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Rosalind Cash (Mary Mae Ward, General Hospital)
• Anna Holbrook (Sharlene Frame Hudson, Another World)
• Victoria Rowell (Drucilla Winters, The Young and the Restless)
• Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Romalotti, The Young and the Restless)'''
• Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia Hastings, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series

• Nathan Fillion (Joey Buchanan, One Life to Live)
• Jonathan Jackson (Lucky Spencer, General Hospital)
• Kevin Mambo (Marcus Williams, Guiding Light)
• Shemar Moore (Malcolm Winters, The Young and the Restless)
• Joshua Morrow (Nicholas Newman, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series

• Kimberly J. Brown (Marah Lewis, Guiding Light)
• Martha Byrne (Lily Walsh Grimaldi, As the World Turns)
• Sharon Case (Sharon Collins, The Young and the Restless)
• Kimberly McCullough (Robin Scorpio, General Hospital)
• Heather Tom (Victoria Newman, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team

• All My Children
• Another World
• As the World Turns
• One Life to Live

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team

• All My Children
• Days of Our Lives
• General Hospital
• The Young and the Restless