Microcrystalline　AgNbO3　photocatalysts　were　successfully　prepared　by　a　sol-gel　method.　The　photocatalytic　activities　of　the　samples　were　evaluated　by　the　degradation　of　various　organic　pollutants　under　visible　light　irradiation　(λ　≥　420　nm).　The　results　indicated　that　AgNbO3　was　favorable　for　adsorbing　cationic　dyes　such　as　rhodamine　B　and　methyl　blue,　and　its　photocatalytic　performances　were　dominated　by　the　adsorption　abilities　for　different　organic　pollutants.　For　the　degradation　of　rhodamine　B,　the　sample　prepared　at　650　°C　showed　the　highest　photocatalytic　activity　and　good　stability　due　to　its　suitable　surface　area　and　crystallinity.　On　the　basic　of　the　experimental　results,　photo-induced　holes　were　suggested　as　the　main　oxidation　species　for　the　pollutants　decomposition　over　AgNbO3.　Furthermore,　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　AgNbO3　was　greatly　enhanced　by　the　addition　of　an　electron　acceptor　AgNO3.　The　enhanced　photocatalytic　mechanism　was　also　discussed.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.