The Vayalar Award is given for the best literary work in Malayalam. The award was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of the renowned Malayalam poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma (1928-1975). The Award now carries a prize money of ₹1,00,000. It is presented each year on 27 October, the death anniversary of Vayalar Ramavarma.
The complete list of awardees is given below:
| Year | Awardees | Work(s) |
| 1977 | Lalithambika Antarjanam | Agnisakshi |
| 1978 | P.K. Balakrishnan | Ini Njan Urangatte |
| 1979 | Malayattoor Ramakrishnan | Yantram |
| 1980 | Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | Kayar |
| 1981 | Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon | Makarakoithu |
| 1982 | O.N.V. Kurup | Uppu |
| 1983 | Vilasini | Avakashikal |
| 1984 | Sugathakumari | Ambalamani |
| 1985 | M.T. Vasudevan Nair | Randamoozham |
| 1986 | N.N. Kakkad | Sabhalameeyatra |
| 1987 | N. Krishnapillai | Prithipatram Bhashanabhetham |
| 1988 | Thirunelloor Karunakaran | Poem’s of Thirunelloor Karunakaran |
| 1989 | Sukumar Azhikode | Thatvamasi |
| 1990 | C. Radhakrishnan | Munbe Parakunna Pakshikal |
| 1991 | O.V. Vijayan | Gurusagaram |
| 1992 | M.K. Sanu | Changampuzha: Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam |
| 1993 | Anand | Marubhoomikal Undakunnathu |
| 1994 | K. Surendran | Guru |
| 1995 | Thikodiyan | Arangukaanatha Nadan |
| 1996 | Perumbadavam Sreedharan | Oru Sankeerthanam Pole |
| 1997 | Madhavikutty | Neermathalam Poothakalam |
| 1998 | S. Guptan Nair | Sristiyum Srestavum |
| 1999 | Kovilan | Thattakam |
| 2000 | M.V. Devan | Devaspanthanam |
| 2001 | T. Padmanabhan | Puzhakadannu Marangalude Idayilekku |
| 2002 | K. Ayyappa Panicker | Works of Ayyappa Panicker 1990-’99 |
| 2003 | M. Mukundan | Kesavante Vilapangal |
| 2004 | Sara Joseph | Alahayude Penmakkal |
| 2005 | K. Sachidananthan | Sakhshayngal |
| 2006 | Sethu | Adayalangal |
| 2007 | Dr. M. Leelavathy | Appuvinte Anveshanam |
| 2008 | M.P. Veerendra Kumar | Hymathabhoovil |
| 2009 | Prof. M. Thomas Mathew | Marar: Lavanyanubhavathinte Yukhishilpam |
| 2010 | Vishnunarayanan Nampoothiri | Charulatha |
| 2011 | K.P Ramanunni | Jeevithanite Pusthakam |
| 2012 | Akitham Achuthan Nampoothiri | Anthimahakalam |
| 2013 | Prabhavarma | Syma Madhavam |
| 2014 | K. R. Meera | Arachar |
| 2015 | Subhash Chandran | Manushyanu Oru Amukham |
| 2016 | U. K. Kumaran | Thakshankunnu Swaroopam |
| 2017 | T. D. Ramakrishnan | Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki |
| 2018 | K. V. Mohan Kumar | Ushnarashi |
| 2019 | V. J. James | Nireeshwaran |