| Election Name: | 1981 Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Virginia |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1977 Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Turnout: | 64.8% (voting eligible)[1] |
| Next Election: | 1985 Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1985 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1981 |
| Nominee1: | Chuck Robb |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 760,357 |
| Percentage1: | 53.5% |
| Nominee2: | Marshall Coleman |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 659,398 |
| Percentage2: | 46.4% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John N. Dalton |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Chuck Robb |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
In the 1981 Virginia gubernatorial election, Republican incumbent Governor John N. Dalton was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Chuck Robb, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, was nominated by the Democratic Party to run against the Republican nominee, state Attorney General J. Marshall Coleman.
Robb's victory ended 12 consecutive years of Republican control of the Governor's Mansion.