The nexus between local food tourism events and social sustainability: Future prospects and priorities

Food has increasingly taken a central role in events and festivals, and its significance in tourism has been well documented through various social and cultural perspectives. However, our understanding and the available research evidence regarding the substantial roles, contributions, and challenges of food tourism events, particularly in relation to social sustainability, remain limited. To accurately assess the development of research on food tourism events and those through the lens of social sustainability, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on studies published from 1983 to 2025, followed by a systematic literature review. The findings reveal five evolving research themes in the field: (1) food event-based experiences and tourist behavioural dynamics; (2) cultural heritage, authenticity, and embodied experiences; (3) socio-economic systems and stakeholder governance; (4) tourist profiles, motivations, and segmentation; and (5) regenerative practices and sustainability transitions. Future research prospects are explored through the in-depth review of the five progressing research themes. • Food tourism events foster social sustainability through cultural heritage and identity, resilience or well-being. • Previous research on food tourism events analysed experiences, heritage, governance, segmentation, and sustainability. • Local community support and diversity recognition are essential for social and sustainable food events. • Food events are complex socio-cultural systems that contribute to inclusive, intersectional and regenerative futures. • Future research should assess food tourism events' sustainability opportunities and risks from a holistic lens.