# List of Billboard Tropical Airplay number ones of 1996

Tropical Airplay is a chart that ranks the top-performing songs (regardless of genre or language) on tropical radio stations in the United States, published by Billboard magazine based on weekly airplay data compiled by Nielsen's Broadcast Data Systems. It is a subchart of Hot Latin Songs, which lists the best-performing Spanish-language songs in the country. In 1996, 20 songs topped the chart, in 52 issues of the magazine.
The first number one of the year was "Nadie Como Ella" by Marc Anthony, which had been in the top spot since the issue dated December 23, 1995, and spent a total of three weeks at this position. Marc Anthony was also the artist with most number ones in 1996 with five songs. Víctor Manuelle and Jerry Rivera achieved their first chart-toppers in 1996 and each had two number ones in the year. "Loco de Amor" by Rivera held this position for seven weeks and tied with Frankie Ruiz's song "Ironía" for the longest run at number one. The latter song was named the best-performing track of the year on the Tropical Airplay chart and won the Billboard Latin Music Award for "Tropical/Salsa Hot Latin Track of the Year" in 1997.
Dark Latin Groove, a salsa and hip hop fusion concept by American musician Sergio George, released their self-titled album in 1996. The album's first two singles, "No Morirá" and "Todo Mi Corazón", both reached number one on the Tropical Airplay chart. Gilberto Santa Rosa topped the chart for the first time in 1996 with "No Quiero Na' Regala'o", which was also the final number one of the year. Jessica Cristina (credited as Jessica), Domingo Quiñones, and Tony Vega obtained their first and only chart-toppers in the year. Cristina was the only female artist to have a number one on the Tropical Airplay chart in 1996.

## Chart history

Chart history :
| Issue date | Title | Artist(s) |
| January 6 | "Nadie Como Ella" | Marc Anthony |
| January 13 | "Suave" | Jerry Rivera |
| January 20 | "Suave" | Jerry Rivera |
| January 27 | "Mi Forma de Sentir" | Giro |
| February 3 | "Mi Forma de Sentir" | Giro |
| February 10 | "Te Amaré" | Marc Anthony |
| February 17 | "Te Amaré" | Marc Anthony |
| February 24 | "Te Amaré" | Marc Anthony |
| March 2 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| March 9 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| March 16 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| March 23 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| March 30 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| April 6 | "Hay Que Poner el Alma" | Víctor Manuelle |
| April 13 | "Tú Cómo Estás" | Domingo Quiñones |
| April 20 | "Tú Cómo Estás" | Domingo Quiñones |
| April 27 | "Llegaste a Mi" | Marc Anthony |
| May 4 | "Llegaste a Mi" | Marc Anthony |
| May 11 | "No Morirá" | Dark Latin Groove |
| May 18 | "No Morirá" | Dark Latin Groove |
| May 25 | "No Morirá" | Dark Latin Groove |
| June 1 | "Esperaré a Que Te Decidas" | Tony Vega |
| June 8 | "Esperaré a Que Te Decidas" | Tony Vega |
| June 15 | "Esperaré a Que Te Decidas" | Tony Vega |
| June 22 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| June 29 | "Todo Mi Corazón" | Dark Latin Groove |
| July 6 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| July 13 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| July 20 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| July 27 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| August 3 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| August 10 | "Ironía" † | Frankie Ruiz |
| August 17 | "Hasta Ayer" | Marc Anthony |
| August 24 | "Hasta Ayer" | Marc Anthony |
| August 31 | "Hasta Ayer" | Marc Anthony |
| September 7 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| September 14 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| September 21 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| September 28 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| October 5 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| October 12 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| October 19 | "Miénteme Otra Vez" | Rey Ruiz |
| October 26 | "Loco de Amor" | Jerry Rivera |
| November 2 | "Por Amar Se Da Todo" | Marc Anthony |
| November 9 | "Te Felicito" | Jessica |
| November 16 | "Te Felicito" | Jessica |
| November 23 | "Y Sé Que Vas a Llorar" | Manny Manuel |
| November 30 | "Te Felicito" | Jessica |
| December 7 | "Volverás" | Víctor Manuelle |
| December 14 | "Una y Mil Veces" | Jerry Rivera |
| December 21 | "No Quiero Na' Regala'o" | Gilberto Santa Rosa |
| December 28 | "No Quiero Na' Regala'o" | Gilberto Santa Rosa |