The structural and luminescence properties of nanocrystalline ZrO2 :Er3+ films are reported. Transparent nanoZrO2 crystalline films doped with Er3+ have been prepared using a wet chemistry process. An intense roomtemperature emission at 1527nm with a full width at half-maximum of 46 nm has been observed, which is assigned to the 4 I13/2 → 4 I15/2 intra-4 fn electric transition of Er3+. Correlations between the luminescence properties and structures of the nanocrystalline ZrO2 :Er3+ films have been investigated. Infrared-to-visible upconversion occurs simultaneously upon excitation of a commercially available 980-nm laser diode and the involved mechanisms have also been explained. The results indicate that the nanocrystalline ZrO2:Er3+ films might be suggested as promising materials for achieving broadband Er3+-doped waveguide amplifiers and upconversion waveguide lasers.