The invention discloses a catalyst for preparing glycol from oxalate through hydrogenation and a preparation method thereof. The catalyst comprises, by weight, 15 to 25% of active metals (including amain metal and an auxiliary metal), 70 to 85% of a carrier and 0.1 to 5% of auxiliary agents, wherein the main active metal is copper and copper oxide; the auxiliary metal is one or two selected froma group consisting of cobalt-series metals and lanthanide-series metals; the carrier is composed of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide in silica sol and aluminum sol; and the auxiliary agents are carbon nanotubes and polyethylene glycol. The catalyst is prepared through homogeneous precipitation. The catalyst prepared in the invention has the advantages of low production cost, high catalytic activity, long service life and few by-products.