| 1. Auditions: Chicago |
S05E01 / Air Date: 17 January 2006 |
| 2. Auditions: Denver |
S05E02 / Air Date: 18 January 2006 |
| 3. Auditions: Greensboro, North Carolina |
S05E03 / Air Date: 24 January 2006 |
| 4. Auditions: San Francisco |
S05E04 / Air Date: 25 January 2006 |
| 5. Auditions: Las Vegas |
S05E05 / Air Date: 31 January 2006 |
| 6. Auditions: Austin, Texas |
S05E06 / Air Date: 01 February 2006 |
| 7. Auditions: Boston, Massachusetts |
S05E07 / Air Date: 07 February 2006 |
| 8. Hollywood Eliminations: Part 1 |
S05E08 / Air Date: 08 February 2006 |
| 9. Hollywood Eliminations: Part 2 |
S05E09 / Air Date: 14 February 2006 |
| 10. Hollywood Eliminations: Part 3 |
S05E10 / Air Date: 15 February 2006 |
| 11. Top 24 Performance Show: Part 1 (Girls) |
S05E11 / Air Date: 21 February 2006 |
| 12. Top 24 Performance Show: Part 2 (Guys) |
S05E12 / Air Date: 22 February 2006 |
| 13. Top 24 Results Show |
S05E13 / Air Date: 23 February 2006 |
| 14. Top 20 Performance Show: Part 1 (Girls) |
S05E14 / Air Date: 28 February 2006 |
| 15. Top 20 Performance Show: Part 2 (Guys) |
S05E15 / Air Date: 01 March 2006 |
| 16. Top 20 Results Show |
S05E16 / Air Date: 02 March 2006 |
| 17. Top 16 Performance Show: Part 1 (Girls) |
S05E17 / Air Date: 07 March 2006 |
| 18. Top 16 Performance Show: Part 2 (Guys) |
S05E18 / Air Date: 08 March 2006 |
| 19. Top 16 Results Show |
S05E19 / Air Date: 09 March 2006 |
| 20. Top 12 Performance Show: Stevie Wonder |
S05E20 / Air Date: 14 March 2006 |
| 21. Top 12 Results Show |
S05E21 / Air Date: 15 March 2006 |
| 22. Top 11 Performance Show: The 50's |
S05E22 / Air Date: 21 March 2006 |
| 23. Top 11 Results Show |
S05E23 / Air Date: 22 March 2006 |
| 24. Top 10 Performance Show: 21st Century |
S05E24 / Air Date: 28 March 2006 |
| 25. Top 10 Results Show |
S05E25 / Air Date: 29 March 2006 |
| 26. Top 9 Performance Show: Country |
S05E26 / Air Date: 04 April 2006 |
| 27. Top 9 Results Show |
S05E27 / Air Date: 05 April 2006 |
| 28. Top 8 Performance Show: Queen |
S05E28 / Air Date: 11 April 2006 |
| 29. Top 8 Results Show |
S05E29 / Air Date: 12 April 2006 |
| 30. Top 7 Performance Show: Great American Songbook |
S05E30 / Air Date: 18 April 2006 |
| 31. Top 7 Results Show |
S05E31 / Air Date: 19 April 2006 |
| 32. Top 6 Performance Show: Love Songs |
S05E32 / Air Date: 25 April 2006 |
| 33. Top 6 Results Show |
S05E33 / Air Date: 26 April 2006 |
| 34. Top 5 Performance Show: Birth Year & Latest Billboards |
S05E34 / Air Date: 02 May 2006 |
| 35. Top 5 Results Show |
S05E35 / Air Date: 03 May 2006 |
| 36. Top 4 Performance Show: Elvis Presley |
S05E36 / Air Date: 09 May 2006 |
| 37. Top 4 Results Show |
S05E37 / Air Date: 10 May 2006 |
| 38. Top 3 Performance Show: Clive Davis', Judges' & Idol's Choice |
S05E38 / Air Date: 16 May 2006 |
| 39. Top 3 Results Show |
S05E39 / Air Date: 17 May 2006 |
| 40. Top 2 Showdown |
S05E40 / Air Date: 23 May 2006 |
| 41. Grand Final |
S05E41 / Air Date: 24 May 2006 |
