Phenyl-2,6-bis(oxazole) ligands have been explored for the synthesis of novel palladium(II) and platinum(II) pincer complexes. The materials were characterized by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray crystallography. Investigations of the photophysical properties revealed that the lowest triplet states of the materials are largely centred at the bis(oxazole) ligands. The platinum(II) compounds are moderately emissive in fluid solution at ambient temperature. Introduction of both strong donors and strong acceptors leads to a significant red shift of the emission. Due to the facile synthesis of bis(oxazole) based complexes with electronically tuneable oxazole moieties, these materials might be promising alternatives to the well-established phenyl-2,6-bipyridyl systems.