A new series of phosphate glasses incorporating Ho3+ ions, using the formula (60-x) P2O5 -20ZnO-10SrO-10-LiF-xHo2O3 (0 ≤ × ≤ 2.0) in increments of 0.5 mol%, was prepared using the conventional melt-quenching method. In this study, we analyzed the structural and optical properties of phosphate glasses containing 2 mol% Ho3+ ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy assessed the structural properties, while optical absorption and luminescence spectra analyzed the optical properties. XRD patterns and surface morphology confirmed the amorphous nature of the glass samples. Optical absorption spectra, analyzed using the Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory, calculated oscillator strengths (fexp and fcal) of 4f-4f transitions and intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, 6). The JO intensity parameters were 2.83, 1.24, and 1.77 (×10–20 cm2) for Ω2, Ω4, and Ω6, respectively, in the order Ω2 > Ω6 > Ω4. Radiative properties such as spontaneous emission transition rates (AR), total transitional probability rates (AT), radiative lifetimes (τR), branching ratios (β), integrated absorption cross-sections (∑), and stimulated emission cross-sections (σ), were determined using these parameters. The luminescence spectra showed three prominent peaks at 5F4 → 5I8 (green): 545 nm, 5F5 → 5I8 (red): 658 nm, and 5F4 → 5I7 (red): 753 nm, with stimulated emission cross-section (σ) values of 3.85, 0.95, and 0.12 (×10–22 cm2), respectively. The emission color was evaluated from the luminescence spectra using the color coordinates (x, y) and was found to lie in the yellowish-green region of the CIE 1931 color diagram. This study suggests that the fabricated phosphate glass incorporating Ho3+ ions is a good candidate for visible-green lasers and photonic applications.