To provide a vehicle headlamp which can automatically change light distribution according to running state or the like of a vehicle and can return automatically to a low-beam illumination at the time of a failure of an actuator.

The shade mechanism 15 is provided with a rotating shade 20 which is made of a rotating shaft member that is constructed so as to rotate around a horizontal axial line Hx extending in the vehicle body width direction and has a first light distribution forming part to form four kinds of low-beam light distribution patterns and a second light distribution forming part to form a high-beam light distribution pattern in the circumference direction of the outer circumference, a rotation motor 30 which rotates the rotating shade 20 through a first rotating member 32 and arranges the plurality of light distribution forming parts in the first light distribution forming part A1 selectively at the upper part, and a solenoid 40 which arranges the second light distribution forming part B1 at the upper part by rotating the rotating shade 20 against the rotation energizing force of a torsion coil spring 55 at the time of control.