An opening degree regulating structure for a variable nozzle mechanism, the structure comprising: the variable nozzle mechanism which comprises: a plurality of variable nozzle vanes 19a arranged along a circumferential direction of a turbine and having nozzle shafts 19b that are rotatably supported by a nozzle mount 21, the nozzle mount being fixed in a housing 5, an annular nozzle drive member 31 which is configured to be rotatable around an axis K of the turbine by an actuator so as to rotate the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes; and connecting members 33 which are equal in number to the nozzle vanes, the connecting members connecting the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes to the nozzle drive member and being configured to be pivotable by the nozzle drive member so as to rotate the nozzle shafts; an opening degree regulating part 43 which is configured to regulate an angle of the nozzle vane by contacting an outer peripheral surface 41 of an inner cylinder 13 the housing and an inner peripheral end surface of the connecting member to each other, the nozzle mount being fixed to the inner cylinder of the housing; characterised by a discharge part formed in at least one of an inner peripheral end portion of the connecting member, the nozzle mount or the housing in a vicinity of the opening degree regulating part so as to discharge soot accumulating in a gap between the inner peripheral end portion of the connecting member and at least one of the nozzle mount and the housing. the variable nozzle mechanism which comprises: a plurality of variable nozzle vanes 19a arranged along a circumferential direction of a turbine and having nozzle shafts 19b that are rotatably supported by a nozzle mount 21, the nozzle mount being fixed in a housing 5, an annular nozzle drive member 31 which is configured to be rotatable around an axis K of the turbine by an actuator so as to rotate the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes; and connecting members 33 which are equal in number to the nozzle vanes, the connecting members connecting the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes to the nozzle drive member and being configured to be pivotable by the nozzle drive member so as to rotate the nozzle shafts; a plurality of variable nozzle vanes 19a arranged along a circumferential direction of a turbine and having nozzle shafts 19b that are rotatably supported by a nozzle mount 21, the nozzle mount being fixed in a housing 5, an annular nozzle drive member 31 which is configured to be rotatable around an axis K of the turbine by an actuator so as to rotate the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes; and connecting members 33 which are equal in number to the nozzle vanes, the connecting members connecting the nozzle shafts of the nozzle vanes to the nozzle drive member and being configured to be pivotable by the nozzle drive member so as to rotate the nozzle shafts; an opening degree regulating part 43 which is configured to regulate an angle of the nozzle vane by contacting an outer peripheral surface 41 of an inner cylinder 13 the housing and an inner peripheral end surface of the connecting member to each other, the nozzle mount being fixed to the inner cylinder of the housing; characterised by a discharge part formed in at least one of an inner peripheral end portion of the connecting member, the nozzle mount or the housing in a vicinity of the opening degree regulating part so as to discharge soot accumulating in a gap between the inner peripheral end portion of the connecting member and at least one of the nozzle mount and the housing.