Provided is a variable valve lift internal combustion engine including a control shaft pivotally supported by a cylinder head via a pivot arm pivotally supported by the cylinder head so as to able to move angularly around a rotational center line extending in parallel with an axial line of the control shaft, a power transmitting member supported by the control shaft, an actuator for causing an angular movement of the control shaft around the rotational center line via the power transmitting member and a control arm having a base end pivotally supported by the control shaft and a free end interposed between a cam lobe of an engine camshaft and a part of a rocker arm. The lift of the engine valve can be varied by angularly moving the control shaft around the rotational center line and moving the base end of the control arm.