Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common extracranial solid tumors in children, which has complex molecular mechanisms. Increasing evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) account for NB pathogenesis. However, the function of small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) in NB is currently unclear. In the present study, publically available data and clinical specimens were employed to verify the expression of SNHG16 in NB. Colony formation, real‑time cell proliferation and migration assays were performed to demonstrate the status of cellular proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry was used to examine cell cycle progression in SH‑SY5Y cells, and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and caspase‑3/7 activity measurements were applied to study cell apoptosis. To explore the underlying mechanism of SNHG16 function, an online database was used to identify potential RNA‑binding proteins that bind SNHG16. The expression of SNHG16 was revealed to be in line with the clinical staging of NB, and high SNHG16 expression was positively associated with poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, SNHG16 silencing inhibited cell proliferation, repressed migration, and induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in SH‑SY5Y cells. Additionally, apoptosis was undetectable in SH‑SY5Y cells following SNHG16 silencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that SNHG16 regulated cell proliferation in NB through transcriptional and translational pathways. These results suggested that SNHG16 may serve important roles in the development and progression of NB, and could represent a potential target for NB therapy.