Photodynamic　therapy　(PDT)　is　a　promising　therapy　due　to　its　efficiency　and　accuracy.　The　photosensitizer　is　delivered　to　the　target　lesion　and　locally　activated.　Viral　nanoparticles　(VNPs)　have　been　explored　as　delivery　vehicles　for　PDT　in　recent　years　because　of　their　favorable　properties,　including　simple　manufacture　and　good　safety　profile.　They　have　great　potential　as　drug　delivery　carriers　in　medicine.　Here,　we　review　the　development　of　PDT　photosensitizers　and　discuss　applications　of　VNP-mediated　photodynamic　therapies　and　the　performance　of　VNPs　in　the　treatment　of　tumor　cells　and　antimicrobial　therapy.　Furthermore,　future　perspectives　are　discussed　for　further　developing　novel　viral　nanocarriers　or　improving　existing　viral　vectors.