Herein, the ternary CdS/BiVO<inf>4</inf>/g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> (CBG) hybrid semiconductor photocatalyst was prepared via a hydrothermal technique. The synthesized photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized using powder XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and UV-DRS to investigate the microstructural, morphological attributes, and optical properties. The photocatalytic activity of the ternary CBG hybrid semiconductor was assessed through the photodegradation of Methylene Blue (MB) aqueous dye under visible light. The outcomes exhibited that the CBG hybrid semiconductor showed excellent photocatalytic activity (about 94.5% after 120 min) compared to the results obtained with the pristine materials or the other composite (CdS/BiVO<inf>4</inf>). The enhancement of photocatalytic activity can be due to the construction of heterojunctions among g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>, CdS, and BiVO<inf>4</inf>, which improves charge transfer efficiency and hence favors the degradation of organic dyes. Moreover, the as-prepared photocatalyst showed excellent stability after five cycles, indicating good stability and reusability. Subsequently, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results. The current investigation provides a promising strategy to promote photocatalytic activity to eliminate waterborne contaminants. © 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.