Yttria dispersion-strengthened tungsten with both enhanced strength and ductility was synthesized through sol–gel method followed by sintering and high-temperature swaging. The sol–gel synthesis process involving a molecular-level doping leads to a unique nanostructure that Y2O3 nano-particles were homogeneously dispersed in tungsten grains interior. The nanosized Y2O3 particles in sol–gel synthesized W-1%Y2O3 are stable in size even under a high sintering temperature of 2300 °C. The swaged sol–gel W-1%Y2O3 show ductility at a relative low temperature of 250 °C, which is about 100 °C and 250 °C lower than that of spark-plasma-sintered sol–gel W-1%Y2O3 and ball-milling synthesized W-1%Y2O3, respectively. The sol–gel method provides a promising access to high-performance nanostructured tungsten materials with both high strength and ductility, and can be easily scaled for industrial production. •Yttria dispersion-strengthened W was synthesized by sol–gel method plus swaging.•Y2O3 nano-particles were homogeneously dispersed in tungsten grains interior.•The nanosized Y2O3 particles in W-1%Y2O3 are stable in size even at 2300 °C.•The swaged sol–gel W-1%Y2O3 show ductility at a relative low temperature of 250 °C.•The sol–gel method is promising for preparation of nanostructured tungsten materials.