v3.25.4
Shareholder Report
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
Holding
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Document Type N-CSR
Amendment Flag false
Registrant Name Northern Lights Variable Trust
Entity Central Index Key 0001352621
Entity Investment Company Type N-1A
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2025
Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual Annual Shareholder Report
C000186848  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Donoghue Forlines Dividend VIT Fund
Class Name Class 1
No Trading Symbol [Flag] true
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This annual shareholder report contains important information about Donoghue Forlines Dividend VIT Fund for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.donoghueforlinesfunds.com/mutual-funds/dividend-vit. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-877-779-7462.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-877-779-7462
Additional Information Website https://www.donoghueforlinesfunds.com/mutual-funds/dividend-vit
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund’s costs for the last year?

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class 1
$217
2.00%
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 217
Expense Ratio, Percent 2.00%
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future.
No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.
AssetsNet $ 8,543,244
Holdings Count | Holding 53
Advisory Fees Paid, Amount $ 19,298
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 52.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Fund Statistics 

  • Net Assets$8,543,244
  • Number of Portfolio Holdings53
  • Advisory Fee (net of waivers)$19,298
  • Portfolio Turnover52%
Holdings [Text Block]

Asset Weighting (% of total investments)

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Collateral for Securities Loaned
10.4%
Common Stocks
87.9%
Money Market Funds
1.7%

Sector Weighting (% of net assets)

Group By Sector Chart
Value
Value
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
-11.5%
Money Market Funds
1.9%
Consumer Discretionary
3.7%
Consumer Staples
3.9%
Real Estate
4.0%
Materials
4.0%
Technology
5.5%
Utilities
5.7%
Communications
6.2%
Industrials
7.9%
Energy
9.6%
Collateral for Securities Loaned
11.6%
Health Care
16.0%
Financials
31.5%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top 10 Holdings (% of net assets)

Holding Name
% of Net Assets
Comcast Corporation - Class A
2.1%
Merck & Company, Inc.
2.1%
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
2.1%
Citigroup, Inc.
2.1%
Amgen, Inc.
2.0%
Lockheed Martin Corporation - Class B
2.0%
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
2.0%
CME Group, Inc.
2.0%
Verizon Communications, Inc.
2.0%
Simon Property Group, Inc.
2.0%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]

Material Fund Changes

No material changes occurred during the year ended December 31, 2025. 
C000186847  
Shareholder Report [Line Items]  
Fund Name Donoghue Forlines Momentum VIT Fund
Class Name Class 1
No Trading Symbol [Flag] true
Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] This annual shareholder report contains important information about Donoghue Forlines Momentum VIT Fund for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Additional Information [Text Block] You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.donoghueforlinesfunds.com/mutual-funds/momentum-vit. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-877-779-7462.
Additional Information Phone Number 1-877-779-7462
Additional Information Website https://www.donoghueforlinesfunds.com/mutual-funds/momentum-vit
Expenses [Text Block]

What were the Fund’s costs for the last year?

(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

Class Name
Costs of a $10,000 investment
Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment
Class 1
$174
1.56%
Expenses Paid, Amount $ 174
Expense Ratio, Percent 1.56%
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] The Fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the Fund will perform in the future.
No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.
AssetsNet $ 72,062,743
Holdings Count | Holding 52
Advisory Fees Paid, Amount $ 668,680
InvestmentCompanyPortfolioTurnover 323.00%
Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block]

Fund Statistics 

  • Net Assets$72,062,743
  • Number of Portfolio Holdings52
  • Advisory Fee $668,680
  • Portfolio Turnover323%
Holdings [Text Block]

Asset Weighting (% of total investments)

Group By Asset Type Chart
Value
Value
Collateral for Securities Loaned
4.5%
Common Stocks
93.9%
Money Market Funds
1.6%

Sector Weighting (% of net assets)

Group By Sector Chart
Value
Value
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
-4.9%
Money Market Funds
1.7%
Utilities
1.9%
Materials
2.0%
Energy
3.9%
Real Estate
4.0%
Collateral for Securities Loaned
4.7%
Consumer Staples
6.1%
Consumer Discretionary
7.9%
Health Care
8.2%
Industrials
9.3%
Communications
10.0%
Financials
14.3%
Technology
30.9%
Largest Holdings [Text Block]

Top 10 Holdings (% of net assets)

Holding Name
% of Net Assets
Micron Technology, Inc.
2.2%
Eli Lilly & Company
2.2%
Ciena Corporation
2.1%
W R Berkley Corporation
2.1%
Chubb Ltd.
2.1%
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
2.1%
Monster Beverage Corporation
2.1%
Casey's General Stores, Inc.
2.1%
Loews Corporation
2.1%
Sandisk Corporation
2.0%
Material Fund Change [Text Block]

Material Fund Changes

No material changes occurred during the year ended December 31, 2025.