A knitting machine, particularly with high gauge, with improved needle actuation cams. The machine comprises a needle holder (1) which supports a plurality of side-by-side needles (2, 3) and is provided with means (4) for guiding the needles (2, 3). The guiding means (4) comprise knitting forming channels (5), which are defined proximate to an end (1a) of the needle holder (1) and are mutually laterally adjacent, and sliding channels (6), which are defined on the needle holder (1) in a region that is spaced from the end (1a) of the needle holder (1) and are mutually laterally adjacent. Each one of the needles (2, 3) is accommodated, so that it can slide longitudinally, in a corresponding knitting forming channel (5) and is provided, at one of its ends, with a hook-shaped head (2a, 3a) which can engage at least one thread supplied to the needles (2, 3) at a feed or drop of the machine to form knitting. Each one of the needles (2, 3) is provided, in a region that is spaced from the head (2a, 3a) and is arranged in one of the sliding channels (6), with at least one heel (2b, 3b) that protrudes from one face of the needle holder (1) and can engage at least one path (7, 8) defined by cams (9) that face the face of the needle holder (1). The needle holder (1) can be actuated with respect to the cams (9) along an actuation trajectory (10) that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the knitting forming channels (5) and the paths (7, 8) are shaped so as to cause, following the actuation of the needle holder (1) along the actuation trajectory (10) with respect to the cams (9), the alternating sliding of the needles (2, 3) along the corresponding knitting forming channel (5) with respect to the needle holder (1). Each one of the needles (2, 3) has at least one elastic flexing (2d, 3d) along its extension which determines an offset of its at least one heel (2b, 3b) with respect to the head (2a, 3a) of the needle (2, 3) along a direction that is substantially parallel to the actuation trajectory (10) of the needle holder (1) with respect to the cams (9) in the same direction as, or in the opposite direction to, the direction of actuation (11) of the needle holder (1) with respect to the cams (9), and the at least one path (7, 8) is offset, in a substantially corresponding manner, with respect to a theoretical path (12) of actuation of an ideal rectilinear needle with its head in alignment with its at least one heel.