The invention relates to a PVA hydrogel-based photo-thermal evaporation material and preparation and application thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps: step 1, respectively preparing an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution, an aqueous nanometer photo-thermal material dispersion solution, an aqueous glutaraldehyde solution and a low-concentration hydrochloric acid solution; 2, fully mixing and stirring the aqueous PVA solution, the aqueous nanometer photo-thermal material dispersion solution, the aqueous glutaraldehyde solution and the low-concentration hydrochloricacid solution in the step 1 according to a certain sequence under a certain temperature condition; and 3, transferring the mixed and stirred product into a forming mold when the mixed and stirred product is not cured, and carrying out standing until a cross-linking reaction is complete, thereby obtaining the hydrogel material. The preparation method disclosed by the invention has the beneficial effects that preparation process is environment-friendly, pollution-free, simple and feasible; preparation cost is low; the obtained hydrogel can be used as an ideal photo-thermal evaporation and solarseawater desalination material; and the prepared hydrogel has high light absorption efficiency, photo-thermal conversion efficiency and evaporation efficiency, and can be applied to the field of solarseawater desalination.