Publication Trends in Leading Event Management Journals: A Comparative Analysis From 2019 to 2023

This study investigates the thematic evolution within event management research by analyzing articles published in three leading event-focused journals– Event Management , Journal of Convention and Event Tourism , and International Journal of Event and Festival Management –from 2019 to 2023. Using comprehensive content analysis and thematic network mapping, the study identifies trends in research topics, author’s keywords, event types, and abstracts, revealing dominant themes such as marketing and management and highlighting underexplored areas like technology and social life-cycle events. The analysis also underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research trends. The findings provide a detailed overview of the field’s progression, offering insights into the academic focus of event management research and suggesting avenues for future exploration. This study contributes to the literature by mapping the thematic landscape of event management, emphasizing the importance of aligning research with industry developments and emerging global challenges.