A new efficient and eco-friendly methodology has been developed for the synthesis of 4-aryl-2,6-dicoumarinylpyridines from coumarinylchalcones and urea, using Bi(iii) nitrate–Al2O3 as catalyst. Coumarinylchalcones were in turn prepared from salicylaldehyde and ethylacetoacetate by the tandem reaction with aldehydes on the surface of Bi(iii) nitrate–Al2O3 in the presence of the co-catalyst Zn(ii) chloride.