(1-x)(0.93Na(0.5)Bi(0.5)TiO(3)-0.07BaTiO(3))-xBiAlO(3) (BNBT-xBA, x=0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.06) lead-free ceramics were synthesized via a conventional solid state reaction method. Crystallite structure, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the BNBT-xBA ceramics were studied in detail. X-ray diffraction results show that all ceramics exhibit typical diffraction peaks of ABO(3) perovskite structure. Scanning electron microscope images show that all samples have fine microstructures. Both Curie temperature and maximum dielectric constant vary with the change in the BiAlO3 amounts. The values of hysteresis loop squareness were calculated to be 1.26, 0.81, 0.51 and 0.36 for the ceramics with x= 0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.06, respectively, indicating a decreased switching behavior of polarization. The changes in dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics are also discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.