The effects of microwave sintering on the sintering behaviour, microstructure and piezoelectric properties of ZnO-doped (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃ (ZnO:NBT) ceramics were investigated. The microstructure and piezoelectric properties of a lead-free NBT ceramic were also studied given different amounts of ZnO doping. X-ray diffraction shows that Zn²⁺ diffuses into the lattice of (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃ to form a solid solution with a pure perovskite structure. Microwave heating with sintering temperatures below 1000°C significantly improves the densification of ZnO:NBT ceramics. The piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ for the 0.5 wt % ZnO:NBT ceramics, sintered at 950°C, was found to be 108 pC/N, with a electromechanical coupling factor kp = 0.17.