The emission spectra of SrAl12O19 : Pr3+ at temperature from 308 to 483 K were investigated under vacuum ultraviolet excitation. Both the dipole-forbidden 4f(2)-> 4f(2) transition and the dipole-allowed 4f5d -> 4f(2) transitions were observed. The intensity of the 4f5d -> 4f(2) emission relative to that of the 4f(2)-> 4f(2) emission increased with increasing temperature. A thermal equilibrium model was applied to the system consisting of the S-1(0) state and the lowest 4f5d states of Pr3+, and the temperature dependence of emission spectra of Pr3+ in the Pr3+-doped SrAl12O19 was well explained.