<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001348259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALIDUS HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NMI II (Cayman) GP, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS RE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD, SUITE 1790</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407585</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Mountain Investments II (Cayman), L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS RE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD, SUITE 1790</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407553</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS RE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD, SUITE 1790</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS RE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD, SUITE 1790</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS RE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD, SUITE 1790</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018327</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLINSKY STEVEN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW MOUNTAIN CAPITAL, L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>787 SEVENTH AVENUE, 49TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001407718</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>New Mountain Capital, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>787 7TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>49TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>584071</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6346697</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45201</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6346697</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10272</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6346697</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The dispositions reported represent sales to Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) pursuant to a Repurchase Agreement that the Issuer, New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P., Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P. and New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P. entered into as of November 4, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities sold were directly owned by New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P.  Following the reported transaction, New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P. directly owns 5,796,198 shares of common stock of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The securities sold were directly owned by Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P.  Following the reported transaction, Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P. directly owns 448,566 shares of common stock of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The securities sold were directly owned by New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P.   Following the reported transaction, New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P. directly owns 101,933 shares of common stock of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">NMI II (Cayman) GP, Ltd. is the general partner of New Mountain Investments II (Cayman), L.P., which is the general partner of each of New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P., Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P. and New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P. (collectively, the &quot;New Mountain Funds&quot;).  Steven B. Klinsky is the sole director of NMI II (Cayman) GP, Ltd. and the chief executive officer of New Mountain Capital, L.L.C. New Mountain Capital, L.L.C. is the manager of each of the New Mountain Funds.  Each of the reporting persons disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, Sole Shareholder of NMI II (Cayman) GP, Ltd.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, Sole Shareholder of GP of New Mountain Investments II (Cayman), L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, Sole Shareholder of GP of GP of New Mountain Partners II (Cayman), L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, Sole Shareholder of GP of GP of New Mountain Affiliated Investors II (Cayman), L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, Sole Shareholder of GP of GP of Allegheny New Mountain Partners (Cayman), L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Klinsky, CEO, New Mountain Capital, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
