Abstract The luminescence of Sm2+ in LiBaF3 is investigated. The Sm2+ ion occupies a centrosymmetric site in this host lattice. The magnetic dipole (MD) and vibrationally induced electric dipole transition probabilities for eight different 5 D J → 7 F J transitions are reported. The (L + 2S)2 matrix elements for the MD allowed transitions are determined and compared with theoretical values for the same transitions on the isoelectronic Eu3+ ion. The transition probabilities AVIB for the vibrationally induced electric dipole transitions are used to test theoretical models that predict AVIB to be proportional to (U(2))2. The dependence of AVIB on (U(2))2 is in fair agreement with theory. However, also transitions characterized by U(2) = 0 show vibronic side bands, albeit on average three times weaker than for the U(2) ≠ 0 transitions. To explain these vibronics we propose to include higher order perturbations in the theory on vibrationally induced electric dipole transitions.