This paper reports the first demonstration of super broadband infrared downshifting emission extending from 1640 nm to 2200 nm with the full width at half maximum of ∼ 417 nm in lanthanides (Er3+, Ho3+, and Tm3+)-doped α-SiAlON ceramics upon 793 nm excitation. Using α-Si3N4 ceramic as a precursor the lanthanides-doped α-SiAlON ceramics were synthesized by the hot-press method. The lanthanides induced no significant secondary phases in the sintered α-SiAlON ceramics. Strong two-photon upconversion emission bands centered at 547, 671 and 694 nm have also been observed upon 793 nm excitation. The time-resolved measurements of the upconversion emissions confirm that the efficient energy transfer among the Er3+, Ho3+ and Tm3+ ions as well as the ground state absorption in Er3+ and Tm3+ are responsible for the observed spectroscopic properties.