In　the　biomedical　field,　polyvinyl　alcohol　(PVA)　sponge　has　been　widely　used.　In　particular,　it　is　considered　a　potential　implant　material　for　repairing　soft　tissues.　However,　its　insufficient　water　absorption　and　mechanical　properties　limit　its　application.　In　this　work,　a　novel　PVA/halloysite　nanotubes　(HNTs)/gelatin　ternary　composite　sponge　was　prepared　by　water　solution　mixing　and　casting　techniques.　HNTs　and　gelatin/PVA　solution　were　mixed　at　different　weight　ratios.　The　structure　of　the　ternary　composite　sponges　was　characterized　by　using　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　physical　properties　of　the　ternary　composite　sponges　were　characterized.　The　maximum　water　absorption　reached　1783.5%　with　a　rapid　water　absorption　speed　at　a　weight　ratio　of　HNTs/gelatin　of　1:8.　Owing　to　its　interconnected　macroporous　structure　and　good　interfacial　interaction,　its　highest　compression　strength　and　tensile　strength　reached　8.22,　1.51　MPa,　respectively.　In　addition,　its　thermal　stability　was　enhanced　as　well,　which　demonstrated　that　the　prepared　composite　sponge　had　better　performance　than　the　pure　PVA　sponge　by　constructing　a　ternary　system.　Therefore,　the　results　suggest　that　the　PVA/HNTs/gelatin　ternary　composite　sponge　shows　a　wider　application　value　as　a　potential　material　for　repairing　soft　tissue.　Highlights:　A　composite　PVA　sponge　with　promising　applications　in　tissue　engineering.　Simple　preparation　method,　water　solution　mixing　and　casting　techniques.　Pioneering　a　PVA/HNTs/gelatin　ternary　system　sponge.　Improved　water　absorption　ability　and　mechanical　properties.　©　2023　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers.