Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Conference, formerly called the International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, Montreal, 7-11 October 1996. The papers presented reflect the excellent progress achieved since the last conference in Seville 1994. Among many other achievements, the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor has produced over 10 MW of fusion power, the JT-60U experiment has demonstrated plasma conditions equivalent to breakeven, the reversed shear mode has been demonstrated, low aspect ratio tokamaks have produced promising results and plans have been drawn up for powerful new inertial confinement fusion experiments.