The invention relates to a catalyst for oxidation of durene. The catalyst mainly overcomes the problem of low yield of the target product pyromellitic dianhydride in oxidation of durene in the prior art. According to the invention, an oxide catalyst is employed; the catalyst adopts alpha-Al2O3, silicon carbide, a ceramic ring or a mixture thereof as a carrier; and the active component of the catalyst is at least one selected from a group consisting of elemental vanadium, iron group elements, group-VIB elements and alkali metal elements. With such a technical scheme, the above technical problemis overcome, side reactions in oxidation of durene are reduced, and the yield of pyromellitic dianhydride is improved.