Ba(Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ ceramics are considered to be promising for technological a pplications owing to their high dielectric constant over a wide range of temperatures. However, there exists considerable discrepancy over the structural details. We address this discrepancy through a combined x-ray diffraction at room temperature and neutron powder diffraction measurements in the range from 5 K up to room temperature, supplemented by a comparative analysis of the earlier reported structures. Our study reveals a cubic structure with space group Pm¯3m at all measured temperatures. Further, the x-ray near edge structure and extended x-ray absorption fine structure studies on the local environment of the Fe ions is consistent with the cubic symmetry. An appropriate value of U for DFT +U calculations is obtained by comparison with x-ray absorption spectroscopy, which agrees well with the earlier reported electronic properties.