The fourth season of Akademi Fantasia premiered on the Astro Ria television channel on 3 June 2006. The season introduced Adlin Aman Ramlie as a replacement for Kudsia Kahar, while Aznil Nawawi returned as host once again. On 5 August 2006, a native of Marang, Terengganu, Mohammad Faizal Ramly won the season, defeating runner-up Lotter P. Edwin Edin. Faizal remained the last male winner until the seventh season.

As much as 20 short-listed contestants were revealed in Tirai Akademi Fantasia, which was aired on 20 May 2006. However, all contestants were required to perform in the Prelude Concert in order to determine the final 12 contestants who would move on to the main competition in which 10 contestants would be chosen by the jury and the remaining two contestants by the audience's votes.

The weekly concerts were held in MBPJ Civic Hall while the final concert was held in Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil. This season also witnessed an elimination of a student in the first concert, an Akademi Fantasia first. The entire season attracted as much as 7.4 million votes.^[1][2][3]

(ages stated are at time of contest)

• Richael L. Gimbang signed with EAD Entertainment and became the main vocalist of music band Estranged. In 2006, his band won the award Favourite Band at ERA Award. His group also won Best Rock and Best Video at Motorola Malaysian English Top 10.
• Nur Azilah Seeron has released her first album in 2006, Realiti.
• Syamsul Hirdy Muhid also known as Diddy Hirdy has his duet single released with Yanie entitled Saling Terpesona. Released his first album in 2007 and "Hilang" is in the top charts of all radio stations. Nominated for Anugerah Planet Muzik 2008 for Best New Male Artist, Anugerah Bintang Popular 2007 for Most Popular New Male Artist, Finalist for Anugerah Era 2007[Favorite Male Vocal, Favorite Duo Vocal (Saling Terpesona), Favorite Pop Song (Hilang) and Most Promising Artist].
• Hazwan Haziq Rosebi appeared in several concerts organized by Istana Budaya and Ministry of Culture, Art & Heritage in Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta.
• Nur Farhan Azizan was nominated in several prestigious award in Malaysia such as in 2007 ERA Award for Favorite Female Vocal; 2007 Planet Music Award for Best New Female Artist; and also 2007 Anugerah Industri Muzik for Best New Artist and Best Vocal in Album. She has also recorded a theme song for Malam Sehati Berdansa in Astro Ria, and also a theme song for a serial drama Cinta & Keadilan entitled Kau Cinta.
• Mohammad Faizal Ramly was chosen as the Ambassador for Mamee slurp in 2006. He has released his first album Datanglah in 2007.

• Total number of students: 12
• Oldest students: Lotter P.Edwin Edin & Richael G. Limbang, both 25 years old
• Youngest students: Amirul Azwan Mohd. Ghazali, Hazwan Haziq Rosebi, Nor Salima Habibi, & Nur Azilah Seeron, all 19 years old
• Tallest student: Syamsul Hirdy Muhid, 6'0" (183 cm)
• Shortest student: Karen Tan Lee Suan
• Heaviest student: Velvet Lawrence Aduk 147.7 lb (67 kg)
• Top 3's vote mean (excluding finale): Mohammad Faizal Ramly – 2.0, Lotter P.Edwin Edin – 3.74, Nur Farhan Azizan – 1.78
• Top 3's vote median (excluding finale): Mohammad Faizal Ramly – 2, Lotter P.Edwin Edin – 4, Nur Farhan Azizan – 1
• Student with the most consecutive highest votes: Nur Farhan Azizan, 6 times
• Student with the most collective highest votes: Nur Farhan Azizan, 6 times
• Students with the most consecutive bottom two appearances: Hazwan Haziq Rosebi & Nor Salima Habibi, both 3 times
• Students with the most collective bottom two appearances: Hazwan Haziq Rosebi & Nor Salima Habibi, both 3 times
• Students with no bottom two appearances: Mohammad Faizal Ramly & Nur Farhan Azizan