The invention discloses a preparation method of a novel ternary nickel complex luminescent material. The method comprises the steps as follows: nickel chloride, 2-carbonylpropanoic acid-4-nitrobenzoylhydrazone and 2,2-bipyridyl are weighed in the ratio of mass of substances being 1:(1-1.5):(1-5), after 2-carbonylpropanoic acid-4-nitrobenzoyl hydrazone and 2,2-bipyridyl are mixed, the mixture is dissolved with 40-60 mL of an ethanol solution, a mixed ligand solution is obtained after uniform mixing, nickel chloride is dissolved with 10-20 mL of an ethanol solution, and a nickel chloride solution is obtained; the stirred nickel chloride solution is slowly dropwise added to the mixed ligand solution, a jade green solution is obtained after a reaction at the room temperature, filtration is performed, and green complex powder is obtained after water-bath concentration; a little complex powder is recrystallized in methanol, filtrate is left to stand for 1 month, and complex monocrystals areobtained. The luminescent material has a strong fluorescence emission peak in the 490 nm position and a weak fluorescence emission peak near the 570 nm position.