Self-activated luminescence ceramic Sr 2 ZrCeO 6 were prepared via typical solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to characterize the ceramic. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, the fluorescence decay curves, X-ray-excited luminescence (XEL), Stokes shift, and CIE color coordinates were investigated. The ceramics can be efficiently excited by UV light and realize yellowish-green luminescence band peaked at 520nm with lifetime of about 6μs. The luminescence mechanism was discussed on the base of the luminescence properties and crystal structure. The origin of the luminescence was suggested from self-activation center of the octahedral Zr–O groups from the Zr 4+ –O 2− CT transition.