In recent years, various emerging contaminants have caused serious threats to the ecological environment, organisms, and human health due to their potential toxicity , which have attracted more and more attention by researchers. Although traditional detection methods have high sensitivity and accuracy, they often rely on large and expensive detection equipment and complex operational procedures. Therefore, rapid, accurate, and convenient detection of emerging contaminants is of vital importance as an important link in the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Among many detection methods, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors have become one of the research hotspots in the field of emerging contaminant detection due to its advantages of low background signal, good sensitivity, and easy miniaturization. This paper systematically reviews the detection mechanism of the PEC sensors and their applications in the field of emerging contaminant detection, The detection strategies, identification strategies of PEC sensors, and modification strategies of photoelectric active materials used in PEC sensors are introduced. The research progress of PEC for the detection of many kinds of emerging contaminants is discussed. Finally, some suggestions and prospects for the development of PEC sensors in the field of emerging contaminant detection are put forward, and some potential problems and possible improvement methods are proposed to promote the further development and application of PEC sensors in the field of emerging contaminant detection.