Novel Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor is synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air. Host Ca2MgWO6 with excitation 300 nm emits blue light. Ca2MgWO6:Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits yellow light. Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor with excitation 300 nm exhibits tunable emission from blue to red light by increasing Sm3+ doping concentration from 0 to 8 mol%, however, only emits red light with excitation 407 nm. Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits red light. The optimal Sm3+ doping concentration is similar to 5 mol% in Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor. After Bi3+ ion is co-doped, luminescence properties of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor can be improved obviously because of Bi2O3 as fluxing agent role and energy transfer from Bi3+ to Sm3+ ions. The possible luminous mechanism of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor is analyzed and explained by simplified energy level diagrams of WO66- group, Bi3+ and Sm3+ ions. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.