Large electrocaloric effect is observed in La doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)(0.94)Ba0.06TiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics synthesized by conventional solid state reaction. The dielectric permittivity and ferroelectric hysteresis loops are measured. The indirect method is used. to calculate electrocaloric temperature change of BNBT6 doped by La. The introduction of La2O3 can enhance the electrocaloric effect of BNBT6. The largest temperature change vertical bar Delta T-62 vertical bar = 2.61 K and electrocaloric coefficient vertical bar xi(max)vertical bar = 0.052 Kcm/kV is achieved in the 0.5 wt% La doped BNBT6, which is significantly higher than that of BNT-based and lead-containing ferroelectric materials reported so far. For 1 wt% ones, the vertical bar Delta T-30 vertical bar= 1.954K and vertical bar xi(max)vertical bar = 0.039 Kcm/kV is obtained in the room-temperature, which promises the environmental-friendly La doped BNBT6 is candidate for applications of solid state cooling devices. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.