According to one embodiment, a projection display apparatus comprises an optical system configured to modulate light from a light source in accordance with an input image signal and to project modulated light onto a screen, a cooling fan configured to cool the optical system, an error detector configured to detect a driving error of the cooling fan, a target rotation speed setting unit configured to set a target rotation speed of the cooling fan, and a target rotation speed controller configured to increase the target rotation speed of the cooling fan when the error detector detects a drive error of the cooling fan.