The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.^[1][2][3] Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical albums and digital downloads. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 2006, as well as albums which peaked in 2005 and 2007 but were in the top 10 in 2006. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

One-hundred and thirty-two albums were in the top ten this year. Fourteen albums from 2005 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while Back to Black by Amy Winehouse and Loose by Nelly Furtado were both released in 2006 but did not reach their peak until 2007. Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson, Employment by Kaiser Chiefs, In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson, PCD by The Pussycat Dolls and Stars of CCTV by Hard-Fi were the albums from 2005 to reach their peak in 2006. Two artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2006. Arctic Monkeys, Editors, The Kooks, Rihanna and Shayne Ward were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2006.

The 2005 Christmas number-one album, Curtain Call: The Hits by Eminem, remained at the top spot for the first week of 2006. The first new number-one album of the year was First Impressions of Earth by The Strokes. Overall, thirty-three different albums peaked at number-one in 2006, with thirty-three unique artists hitting that position.

One-hundred and thirty-two albums charted in the top 10 in 2006, with one-hundred and twenty-one albums reaching their peak this year (including Snap!, which charted in previous years but reached a peak on its latest chart run).

Two artist scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2006. Robbie Williams had three top 10 albums this year, while Daniel O'Donnell had two entries. Daniel O'Donnell's two entries were both released this year.

Thirty-six artists achieved their first top 10 album in 2006 as a lead artist.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo album, or featured appearances on compilations or other artists recordings.

Notes

Simon Webbe released his debut album in 2006 during his group Blue's hiatus - he had recorded 3 number-one albums and a number 6 peaking compilation album with his bandmates by that point. David Gilmour was part of the highly successful Pink Floyd but he secured his first solo top 10 album this year with On an Island going straight to the top of the chart. His previous two efforts - 1978's self-titled album (17) and 1984's About Face (21) - both fell short of the top ten.

Like fellow Libertines member Pete Doherty with Babyshambles the previous year, Carl Barat hit the chart with his new band Dirty Pretty Things with their debut album Waterloo to Anywhere, peaking at number three. Similarly another new rock band The Raconteurs included The White Stripes frontman Jack White among its line-up.

Thom Yorke stepped into the spotlight away from Radiohead with his debut album, The Eraser reaching third position in the chart. Pharrell Williams also reached the top 10 with his first solo effort, In My Mind. With his group N.E.R.D., Fly or Die had previously made the chart.

Snow Patrol had the best-selling album of the year with Eyes Open. The album spent 35 weeks in the top 10 (including three weeks at number one), sold 1.504 million copies and was certified 5× platinum by the BPI. Beautiful World by Take That came in second place. Scissor Sisters' Ta-Dah, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not from Arctic Monkeys and Inside In / Inside Out by The Kooks made up the top five. Albums by Razorlight, Oasis, Westlife, Pink and James Morrison were also in the top ten best-selling albums of the year.

Key

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2006, including albums that reached their peak in 2005. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 2006 is also shown.

• 2006 in British music
• List of number-one albums from the 2000s (UK)

General

• "Six decades of singles charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

Specific

• 2006 album chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)