2006 in Latin music
This is a list of notable events in Latin music that took place in 2006.
Events
- November 3 — The 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards are held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
- *Shakira is the biggest winner receiving four awards including Album of the Year for Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "La Tortura" featuring Alejandro Sanz.
- *Calle 13 wins Best New Artist.
- December 16 — At the first Premios Principales del Año awards ceremony in Madrid, El Canto del Loco win three of the national categories; Shakira wins two awards in international categories.
Number-ones albums and singles by country
- List of number-one singles of 2006 (Spain)
- List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums of 2006
- List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Songs of 2006
Awards
- 2006 Premio Lo Nuestro
- 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards
- 2006 Latin Grammy Awards
- 2006 Tejano Music Awards
Best-selling records
Best-selling albums
The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling Latin albums in the United States in 2006, according to Billboard.Best-performing songs
The following is a list of the top 10 best-performing Latin songs in the United States in 2006, according to Billboard.| Rank | Album | Artist |
| 1 | "Down" | R.K.M & Ken-Y |
| 2 | "Hips Don't Lie" | Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean |
| 3 | "Rompe" | Daddy Yankee |
| 4 | "Aliado del Tiempo" | Mariano Barba |
| 5 | "Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy)" | Wisin & Yandel |
| 6 | "Caile" | Tito "El Bambino" |
| 7 | "Machucando" | Daddy Yankee |
| 8 | "Angelito" | Don Omar |
| 9 | "Un Beso" | Aventura |
| 10 | "Labios Compartidos" | Maná |
Deaths
- February 1 –, 62, Uruguayan singer and composer
- February 17 – Ray Barretto, 76, American-born Latin jazz percussionist and bandleader, heart failure.
- March 23 – Pío Leyva, 88, Cuban musician, heart attack.
- March 25 – Rocío Dúrcal, 61, Spanish singer and actress, uterine cancer.
- May 10 – Soraya, 37, Colombian-American songwriter, guitarist, arranger, record producer, and singer, breast cancer.
- June 1 – Rocío Jurado, 61, Spanish singer and actress, pancreatic cancer.
- June 6 – Hilton Ruiz, 54, American jazz pianist, injuries from a fall.
- July 1 – Israel Kantor, 56, Cuban singer
- July 11 – Oscar Moro, 58, Argentine drummer
- July 13 – Jesús Caunedo "La Gruya", Cuban alto sax musician
- August 6:
- * Miguel "Angá" Díaz, 45, Cuban conga player, heart attack.
- *Moacir Santos, 80, Brazilian composer and arranger.
- October 14 – Freddy Fender, 69, American singer, lung cancer.
- November 6 – Miguel Aceves Mejía, 90, Mexican singer and actor known as "the king of the falsetto", bronchitis.
- November 25 – Valentín Elizalde, 27, Mexican banda singer, shot.
- November 26 – Raúl Velasco, 73, Mexican television presenter, hepatitis C.
- December 14 – Sivuca, 76, Brazilian accordionist and composer, cancer.