The UK Album Downloads Chart is compiled by the Official Charts on behalf of the British music industry. Since July 2015, the chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the chart date given as the following Thursday. The chart was introduced in April 2006 to coincide with the OCC's decision to include sales of album downloads in the UK Albums Chart. The first album to top the download chart was This New Day by Embrace.

This New Day is the fifth studio album by English rock band Embrace. It was released on 27 March 2006, being preceded by the release of the single, "Nature's Law", and went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart. The single and album were enough to earn the band the distinction of performing "World at Your Feet", England's official 2006 FIFA World Cup song. The album was then reissued on 5 June 2006, with the song included on it. The album is also notable for being the first album ever to top the UK Album Downloads Chart.