(BixBa1−x)(Znx/2Ti1−x/2)O3 [xBi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3-(1 − x)BaTiO3, x ⩽ 0.30] solid solution ceramics with a pure perovskite structure were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction method. A change in symmetry from tetragonal to cubic was observed as the mole fraction of Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 increased. All compositions show a dielectric anomaly over the temperature range 30–120 °C. In the tetragonal phase region, the temperature Tm of the maximum dielectric constant decreases with increasing Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 content. In the cubic phase area, the compositions show general dielectric relaxation of linear dielectrics, and Tm increases with increasing Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 content. The phase transition, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of (BixBa1−x)(Znx/2Ti1−x/2)O3 ceramics are sensitive to nano-regional chemistries.