The 2006 Meteor Music Awards took place in the Point Theatre, Dublin on 2 February 2006. It was the sixth edition of Ireland's national music awards. The event was later aired on RTÉ Two at 21:00 on Sunday 5 February and was hosted by the comedian Patrick Kielty. A total of seventeen awards were presented at the ceremony.

U2 were the largest winners at the 2006 awards, receiving three gongs, Best Irish Band, Best Irish Album for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and Best Live Performance for their 2005 Croke Park shows. The band's bassist Adam Clayton attended the show and picked up the awards. The four international awards were divided between Kanye West (Best International Male), Gwen Stefani (Best International Female) and Kaiser Chiefs (Best International Band and Best International Album for Employment). The Pogues were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, whilst Today FM presenter Ray D'Arcy was named Best Irish DJ for a second consecutive year.^[1]

After the awards Louis Walsh was caught red-handed in an embarrassing situation with Kerry Katona when he gripped her from behind and did something naughty and rude.^[2]

There were performances on the night from The Darkness, Damien Dempsey, Bell X1, Gemma Hayes and Republic of Loose.^[3]

The nominations were announced in November 2005.^[4]

U2 and Kaiser Chiefs won all awards they were nominated for, three and two respectively.

• 3 – U2
• 2 – Arcade Fire
• 2 – Bell X1
• 2 – Coldplay
• 2 – Damien Dempsey
• 2 – Kaiser Chiefs
• 2 – Christy Moore
• 2 – Sharon Shannon
• 2 – John Spillane
• 2 – Turn