Tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) over zirconia dispersed uniformly in mesoporous silica (MS) channels of MCM-41 and MCM-48 were synthesized and tested for their catalytic activity in veratrole acetylation. Catalysts with different TPA loadings (5–50wt.%) on 22.4wt.%ZrO 2 /MCM-41 and 15wt.%TPA on different zirconia loadings (10–70wt.%)/MCM-41 were prepared and calcined at 1123K. The physico-chemical characterization of the supported catalysts was done by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface area measurement (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia, FT-IR pyridine adsorption and 31 P cross polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The mesoporous silica supports play an important role in stabilizing catalytically active TPA along with tetragonal phase of zirconia. Among the catalysts, 15wt.%TPA/22.4wt.%ZrO 2 /MCM-41 calcined at 1123K was found to have highest acidity and at least four times more active than neat 15wt.%TPA/ZrO 2 in veratrole acetylation to acetoveratrone by acetic anhydride. Reaction conditions were evaluated with 15wt.%TPA/22.4wt.%ZrO 2 /MCM-41 calcined at 1123K to get higher conversion of acetic anhydride to acetoveratrone. The reaction was found to be heterogeneously catalyzed and no contribution from homogeneous (leached) TPA into the medium under the reaction conditions.