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

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>EFFECT</submissionType>

    <act>33</act>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <effectiveData>
        <finalEffectivenessDispDate>2017-03-08</finalEffectivenessDispDate>
        <finalEffectivenessDispTime>16:35:00</finalEffectivenessDispTime>
        <form>N-14</form>
        <filer>
            <cik>0000822671</cik>
            <entityName>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST</entityName>
            <fileNumber>333-215836</fileNumber>
            <seriesClassContractData>
                <merger>
                    <acquiringCik>0000822671</acquiringCik>
                    <acquiringEntityName>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST</acquiringEntityName>
                    <acquiringSeriesId>S000003894</acquiringSeriesId>
                    <acquiringSeriesName>Putnam VT Equity Income Fund</acquiringSeriesName>
                    <acquiringClassContractId>C000010883</acquiringClassContractId>
                    <acquiringClassContractName>Class IA Shares</acquiringClassContractName>
                    <targetCik>0000822671</targetCik>
                    <targetEntityName>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST</targetEntityName>
                    <targetSeriesId>S000003898</targetSeriesId>
                    <targetSeriesName>Putnam VT Growth and Income Fund</targetSeriesName>
                    <targetClassContractId>C000010891</targetClassContractId>
                    <targetClassContractName>Class IA Shares</targetClassContractName>
                </merger>
                <merger>
                    <acquiringCik>0000822671</acquiringCik>
                    <acquiringEntityName>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST</acquiringEntityName>
                    <acquiringSeriesId>S000003894</acquiringSeriesId>
                    <acquiringSeriesName>Putnam VT Equity Income Fund</acquiringSeriesName>
                    <acquiringClassContractId>C000010884</acquiringClassContractId>
                    <acquiringClassContractName>Class IB Shares</acquiringClassContractName>
                    <targetCik>0000822671</targetCik>
                    <targetEntityName>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST</targetEntityName>
                    <targetSeriesId>S000003898</targetSeriesId>
                    <targetSeriesName>Putnam VT Growth and Income Fund</targetSeriesName>
                    <targetClassContractId>C000010892</targetClassContractId>
                    <targetClassContractName>Class IB Shares</targetClassContractName>
                </merger>
            </seriesClassContractData>
        </filer>
    </effectiveData>
</edgarSubmission>
