The CeO2 doped 0.97(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-0.03Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3-1.0mol%CeO2 (0.97KNN0.03BZN-1.0CeO2) leadfree ferroelectric ceramics were prepared by the solidstate reaction method. The effects of different holding time (1 h, 2 h and 4 h) and heating rate (2 ℃/min, 5 ℃/min) on the phase composition, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the samples at the sintering temperature of 1130 ℃ was studied. The results showed that the 0.97KNN0.03BZN1.0CeO2 ceramics samples were compact and exhibited excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties when being sintered at 1 130 ℃, held for 4 h with heating rate of 2 ℃/min. Its dielectric permittivity was 1 418 (100 kHz), and the dielectric loss was less than 2%. Additionally, the characteristics of relaxation ferroelectric were exhibited.