Alternating π‐conjugated copolymers of 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,6‐diyl (1,8‐Nap) with 9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl (P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap)) and 2,5‐didodecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene (P(ROPh‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap)) have been synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed organometallic polycondensation. The copolymers showed UV‐vis absorption peaks at around 390 nm in o‐dichlorobenzene. The polymers were photoluminescent both in o‐dichlorobenzene and in the solid state. In o‐dichlorobenzene, the emission peaks of P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) and P(ROPh‐Ph‐1.,8‐Nap) appeared at λEM = 440 and 471 nm, with quantum yields of 87% and 66%, respectively. Electrochemical data revealed that 1,8‐Nap behaved as a typical electron‐accepting unit. When P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) was treated with 10‐camphorsulfonic acid, the emission peak shifted to λEM = 598 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011