A variable nozzle mechanism (11, 12, 13, 11X) for a rotating machine, comprising: a first annular member (31, 32, 33, 31X); a plurality of nozzle vanes which are provided to face the first annular member, disposed in an annular fluid flow channel for guiding a working fluid from a scroll flow channel formed on an outer circumferential side of a turbine rotor to the turbine rotor (24, 24X), rotatable relative to the first annular member, and configured to adjust the flow passage area of the fluid flow channel; a plurality of vane shafts which are inserted through support holes (41, 41X) penetrating through the first annular member and supporting the respective nozzle vanes one by one; a plurality of levers which are disposed outside the fluid flow channel and extend from the respective vane shafts outwardly toward an outside of the first annular member in a radial direction thereof; and a second annular member (40, 40X) which is provided to be rotatable with respect to the first annular member around a central axis of the first annular member to support the plurality of levers, and rotates the nozzle vanes together with the levers relative to the first annular member, characterised in that the circumferential direction of the first annular member is same with a rotation direction of the second annular member, wherein each of the levers has a lever side facing surface (901, 903) which faces the first annular member in the direction of the central axis, and the first annular member has a first surface (61, 62, 63) formed in an opposing region that faces the lever side facing surface of each lever in the direction of the central axis of the first annular member such that a clearance between the first surface and the lever side facing surface in the direction of the central axis of the first annular member is minimum, and a second surface (71, 72, 73) which is disposed adjacent to the first surface in a circumferential direction of the first annular member and has a clearance in the direction of the central axis with respect to the lever side facing surface greater than the clearance in the direction of the central axis between the first surface and the lever side facing surface. a first annular member (31, 32, 33, 31X); a plurality of nozzle vanes which are provided to face the first annular member, disposed in an annular fluid flow channel for guiding a working fluid from a scroll flow channel formed on an outer circumferential side of a turbine rotor to the turbine rotor (24, 24X), rotatable relative to the first annular member, and configured to adjust the flow passage area of the fluid flow channel; a plurality of vane shafts which are inserted through support holes (41, 41X) penetrating through the first annular member and supporting the respective nozzle vanes one by one; a plurality of levers which are disposed outside the fluid flow channel and extend from the respective vane shafts outwardly toward an outside of the first annular member in a radial direction thereof; and a second annular member (40, 40X) which is provided to be rotatable with respect to the first annular member around a central axis of the first annular member to support the plurality of levers, and rotates the nozzle vanes together with the levers relative to the first annular member, characterised in that the circumferential direction of the first annular member is same with a rotation direction of the second annular member, wherein each of the levers has a lever side facing surface (901, 903) which faces the first annular member in the direction of the central axis, and the first annular member has a first surface (61, 62, 63) formed in an opposing region that faces the lever side facing surface of each lever in the direction of the central axis of the first annular member such that a clearance between the first surface and the lever side facing surface in the direction of the central axis of the first annular member is minimum, and a second surface (71, 72, 73) which is disposed adjacent to the first surface in a circumferential direction of the first annular member and has a clearance in the direction of the central axis with respect to the lever side facing surface greater than the clearance in the direction of the central axis between the first surface and the lever side facing surface.