In general, according to one embodiment, a video display apparatus includes a backlight, a signal processing module, a transmission-type display panel, and a lighting timing generation processing module. The signal processing module is configured to process an input video signal and output an output video signal for 2D display or 3D display. The transmission-type display panel is configured to control transmission of light supplied from the backlight according to the output video signal. The lighting timing generation processing module is configured to switch between a backlight lighting period for the 2D display and a backlight lighting period for the 3D display in such a manner that a time of a center of gravity of a figure formed by a response level-time curve in the backlight lighting period is later in the 3D display than in the 2D display.