Here we report on a detailed investigation of the crystal structure, cryogenic magnetic and magneto-caloric properties in Ho2BaCuO5 cuprate. The Ho2BaCuO5 crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal structure with Pbnm space group and undergoes a paramagnetic (PM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at the Néel temperature (TN) of 12.5K. An obvious signal change in the magneto-caloric effect (MCE) was observed, which is correlated with the fact of the AFM ground state inducing a small negative magnetic entropy change (-ΔSM) at/below TN and a field-induced metamagnetic transition (first ordered) from AFM to ferromagnetic (FM) producing a large positive -ΔSM above TN. For a magnetic field change of 0–7T, the -ΔSMmax ≈ 10.4J/kgK, RCP ≈ 263J/kg and RC ≈ 199J/kg for the maximum magnetic entropy change, relative cooling power and refrigerant capacity are evaluated, respectively.