The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 17 contestants (including all of the top 9) getting record deals - nine of them with major labels. It is the second season with a male winner (Taylor Hicks) and a female runner-up (Katharine McPhee). It was also the first season of the series to be aired in high definition.

Auditions were held in seven cities in the summer and early fall of 2005 in the following order:

Unlike Season Four, no guest judges were involved during the auditions.