<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000928816-18-001835-index.html : 20180828
<SEC-HEADER>0000928816-18-001835.hdr.sgml : 20180828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180828144941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000928816-18-001835
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-CSRS
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		7
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180828
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180828
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20180828

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000822671
		IRS NUMBER:				046649095
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-CSRS
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05346
		FILM NUMBER:		181041378

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002551581

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM CAPITAL MANAGER TRUST /MA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
<SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
<EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
<SERIES>
<OWNER-CIK>0000822671
<SERIES-ID>S000003884
<SERIES-NAME>Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010863
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IA Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010864
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IB Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
</SERIES>
</EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
</SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-CSRS
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a_vtsustainableleaders.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
<TEXT>
Document 1 - file: a_vtsustainableleaders.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CERT
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b_pvtcertifications.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
Document 2 - file: b_pvtcertifications.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>c_pvtnoscertification.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS 906
<TEXT>
Document 3 - file: c_pvtnoscertification.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>sustainableleadersx1x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 4 - file: sustainableleadersx1x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>sustainableleadersx2x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 5 - file: sustainableleadersx2x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>sustainableleadersx3x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 6 - file: sustainableleadersx3x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>sustainableleadersx4x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 7 - file: sustainableleadersx4x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>