The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting SO2 in SF6 electrical equipment based on ultraviolet fluorescence. The apparatus comprises an induction regulator, a corona-free experimental transformer, a partial discharge protection-free resistor, a standard capacitance voltage divider, a non-inductive resistor, a GIS analog element and a digital storage oscilloscope. An ultraviolet fluorescence system is arranged and comprises a fluorescence excitation assembly, a fluorescence capturing assembly and a gas passage assembly. In detection, performance parameters of the system are measured at first, and then the concentration of a discharging trace component of sulfur hexafluoride gas is detected. The apparatus and method provided by the invention can realize real-time, on-line and continuous monitoring and are widely applicable to detection of decomposition components of sulfur hexafluoride under the condition of partial discharging in SFT gas insulation electrical equipment, especially GIS equipment; and a simple and reliable method is provided for theoretical analysis of and applied research on state detection of SF6 in GIS equipment in scientific research, teaching and research institutes, equipment manufacturers and electrical power systems.