The Routledge Handbook of Events explores and critically evaluates the debates and controversies associated with this rapidly expanding discipline. It brings together leading specialists from range of disciplinary backgrounds and geographical regions, to provide state-of-the-art theoretical reflection and empirical research on the evolution of the subject. It is the first major study to examine what events is as a discipline in the twenty-first century, its significance in contemporary society and growth as a mainstream subject area. The book is divided in to five inter-related sections. Section one evaluates the evolution of events as a discipline and defines what events studies is. Section two critically reviews the relationship between events and other disciplines such as tourism and sport. Section three focuses on the management of events, section four evaluates the impacts of events from varying political, social and environmental perspectives and section five examines the future direction of growth in event-related education and research. It offers the reader a comprehensive synthesis of this field, conveying the latest thinking and research. The text will provide an invaluable resource for all those with an interest in Events Studies, encouraging dialogue across disciplinary boundaries and areas of study.