A pilot allocation method for a multi-antenna system and a pilot allocation apparatus are provided. The method comprises: determining the number of pilots to be allocated and the number of training cycles at least according to the number of users in each cell, and determining a pilot allocation scheme of the each cell according to the number of pilots to be allocated and the number of training cycles. The determining a pilot allocation scheme of the each cell can comprise determining pilots allocated for users in the l-th cell used during each training cycle, and during each training cycle, allocating pilots of at least the k-th user of the l-th cell to different users in other cells of the system. By allocating pilots allocated to a desired user to different users during each training cycle, pilot contamination can be randomized during several different continuous training cycles, thereby providing a basis for the later accurate channel estimation.