Metal–organic　gels　(MOGs)　emerged　as　an　attractive　luminescent　soft　material　for　electrochemiluminescence　(ECL).　In　this　work,　a　cathodic　ECL-activated　europium　metal–organic　gel　(Eu-MOG)　has　been　synthesized　by　a　facile　mixing　of　Eu3+　with　4′-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine　(Hcptpy)　under　mild　conditions.　The　prepared　Eu-MOG　is　highly　mesoporous　for　co-reactant　permeation　to　produce　an　ultra-stable　and　high-efficient　ECL,　based　on　the　antenna　effect　of　Eu3+　coordinating　with　Hcptpy.　Moreover,　dipicolinic　acid　(DPA)　can　competitively　coordinate　with　Eu3+　instead　of　water　molecules,　producing　an　enhanced　ECL　signal.　Therefore,　an　ECL　enhancement　assay　was　developed　for　DPA　detection.　There　was　a　linear　relationship　between　the　ECL　intensity　and　the　logarithmic　concentration　of　DPA　in　the　0.01–1 μM　range,　and　the　detection　limit　is　7.35 nM.　This　work　displays　the　promising　application　of　Eu-MOG　in　the　ECL　field,　opening　a　broad　inspection　for　seeking　a　new　generation　of　ECL　luminophores.　Graphical　Abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Austria,　part　of　Springer　Nature.