Ca2MgSi2O7:Ce3+, Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ and Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Ce3+ phosphors were prepared using the solid‐state reaction method. The crystal structures of the sintered phosphors were of melilite type, which has a tetragonal crystallography. The chemical compositions of the sintered phosphors was confirmed by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The different thermoluminescence kinetic parameters [activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and order of the kinetics (b)] of these phosphors were evaluated and compared using the peak shape method. Under ultraviolet excitation, the emission spectra of both Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ and Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Ce3+ phosphors were composed of a broad emission band peaking at 530 nm. When the Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ phosphor is co‐doped with Ce3+ ions, photoluminescence, afterglow and mechanoluminescence intensity was strongly enhanced. Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ showed some afterglow with a short persist time. On incorporation of Ce3+, efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu2+ was found and the emission intensity of Eu2+ was enhanced. The mechanoluminescence intensities of Ca2MgSi2O7:Ce3+, Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ and Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Ce3+ phosphors increased proportionally increased with the increase in impact velocity, which suggests that these phosphors can be used as sensors to detect stress in an object.