The novel Shadows of the Empire, along with its video game counterpart, both came out in 1996. Here's a chronological listing of Star Wars-related happenings during 1996.
- 01 – The book Classic Star Wars Volume 3: Escape to Hoth hits shelves.
- 01 – The fourth installment of Heir to the Empire is released.
- 01 – Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World sees publication.
- 01 – Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War 6 makes its debut.
- 01 – Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 6 is available.
- 01 – X-Wing: Rogue Squadron is published.
- 15 – The birth of Dove Cameron occurs.
- 15 – The Kathol Outback gets published.
- 01 – Star Wars Adventure Journal 9 sees the light of day.
- 11 – The passing of Brian Daley occurs.
- 13 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 5 is released to the public.
- 20 – Jabba the Hutt: Betrayal is published.
- 27 – Splinter of the Mind's Eye 2 is available for purchase.
- ?? – The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook is released.
- 01 – Before the Storm is released.
- 01 – Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers is published.
- 12 – A limited-edition hardcover collection of Star Wars: Dark Empire II is released.
- 12 – Heir to the Empire 5 is published.
- 12 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 6 is released.
- 19 – The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels is published.
- 26 – Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley is released.
- 01 – Junior Jedi Knights: Promises is published.
- 01 – Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 7 is released.
- 01 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 7 is published.
- 23 – The Shadows of the Empire soundtrack is released on CD.
- 23 – Splinter of the Mind's Eye 3 is published.
- 30 – Heir to the Empire 6 is released.
- ?? – The Jedi Academy Sourcebook is published.
- 01 – Star Wars Adventure Journal 10 is published.
- 01 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 8 is released.
- 02 – X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble is published.
- 07 – Shadows of the Empire 1 hits shelves.
- ?? – The Kathol Rift is published.
- ?? – Shadows of the Empire sees publication.
- 01 – Young Jedi Knights: Darkest Knight is published.
- 01 – Shadows of the Empire 2 sees release.
- 23 – Battle of the Bounty Hunters is published.
- 23 – The Nintendo 64 is released to the market.
- 25 – Splinter of the Mind's Eye 4 is published.
- 25 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 9 is released.
- ?? – West End Games releases Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook.
- 01 – Tales of the Jedi – The Golden Age of the Sith 0 is published.
- 01 – Shadows of the Empire 3 is published.
- 02 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 10 is released.
- 24 – Star Wars Technical Journal Collector's Edition is published in the UK.
- ?? – Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 8 is published.
- ?? – Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back (Second Edition) is released.
- 01 – Shield of Lies is published.
- 01 – Tales of the Jedi Companion is released.
- 07 – Shadows of the Empire 4 is published.
- 08 – Return of the Jedi (radio) is released.
- 14 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 11 is released.
- 31 – The passing of Shawn Valdez occurs.
- ?? – Star Wars: The Art of Dave Dorman is published.
- ?? – Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded is released.
- ?? – This Crumb for Hire is published.
- ?? – Live-Action Adventures is released.
- 01 – Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege is published.
- 04 – Shadows of the Empire 5 is published.
- 04 – Classic Star Wars Box Set is released.
- 11 – Heir to the Empire is released as a trade paperback.
- 11 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 12 is released.
- 18 – Boba Fett: When the Fat Lady Swings is published.
- ?? – Pre-production for The Phantom Menace gets underway.
- ?? – Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide is published.
- 01 – The Shadows of the Empire junior novelization is published.
- 01 – Shadows of the Empire 6 is released.
- 01 – Tales of the Jedi – The Golden Age of the Sith 1 is published.
- 01 – Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 9 is released.
- 01 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 13 is published.
- 02 – X-Wing: The Krytos Trap is published.
- 15 – Luke's Fate is released.
- 01 – Tales of the Jedi – The Golden Age of the Sith 2 is published.
- 01 – Star Wars Adventure Journal 11 is released.
- 03 – Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is released on the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
- 05 – The premiere of Return of the Jedi : " Tatooine Haunts " airs on National Public Radio .
- 12 – " Fast Friends " airs on National Public Radio .
- 19 – " Prophecies and Destinies " airs on National Public Radio .
- 26 – " Pattern and Web " airs on National Public Radio .
- 30 – Star Wars: Dark Forces is released on the PlayStation.
- ?? – StarWars.com goes live.
- 01 – Splinter of the Mind's Eye (TPB) is published.
- 01 – Tyrant's Test is released.
- 01 – X-Wing Rogue Squadron 14 is published.
- 03 – " So Turns a Galaxy, So Turns a Wheel " airs on National Public Radio .
- 10 – The conclusion of Return of the Jedi : " Blood of a Jedi " airs on National Public Radio .
- 11 – Tales of the Jedi – The Golden Age of the Sith 3 is published.
- 17 – Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire: Game Secrets is released.
- ?? – Endgame is published.
- ?? – West End Games releases the Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised.
- ?? – Gamemaster Toolkit: Live-Action Adventures is published.
- ?? – The New Rebellion is released.
- ?? – Tales of the Bounty Hunters is published.
- ?? – Instant Adventures is released.
- ?? – Star Wars (Mighty Chronicles) is published.
- ?? – Operation: Elrood is released.
- Aspyr Media is established.
- Classic Adventures: Volume Three is published.
- Heroes in Hiding is released.
- Imperial Entanglements is published.
- The Star Wars comic begins publication.
- – Star Wars Insider 28 is published in Winter.
- – Star Wars Insider 29 is published in Spring.
- – Star Wars Insider 30 is published in Summer.
- – Star Wars Insider 31 is published in Fall.