In this paper, we reported on the obtention of a series of europium and titanium co-doped BaZrO 3 phosphors, which could emit red-orange long afterglow, synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The structures, morphology and photoluminescent properties of the all samples were characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Schottky field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and decay curves, respectively. The XRD analyses showed that the reflection of all prepared BaZrO 3 powders was well indexed to cubic structure. The room-temperature excitation spectra monitored at 594nm consist of a broad band with the stronger excitation PL peak, which located at 260nm, and a series of narrow bands. A series of narrow bands from 4f→4f emission transitions of the 5 D 0 excited level to the 7 F J (J=0–4) levels of the Eu 3+ ions were observed in the emission spectra excited at 260nm. The decay curves of samples well coincided with the sum of two exponential functions. Combining experimental results and theoretical analyzis, we proposed a corresponding novel afterglow mechanism, which reasonably explained the afterglow phenomenon of BaZrO 3 :Eu, Ti. The BaZrO 3 :Eu, Ti phosphors had stronger afterglow, better monochromaticity and longer decay time compared with BaZrO 3 :Eu phosphors. It implied that the Ti co-doping was an effectual and practical way to improve afterglow performance of BaZrO 3 -based phosphors.