Edinburgh Napier University

  Social network analysis (SNA) is an under-utilised framework for research into festivals and events. This paper reflects upon the history of SNA, and explores its key concepts, in order that they might be applied to festivals and their environments. Secondary material from the literature of SNA, tourism studies and the festival industry underpins the paper. The analysis argues that festival cities offer dynamic environments in which to investigate the workings of social networks. The importance of such networks has long been recognised within the industry, yet there is scant reflection of this in the event studies literature. Uses of SNA in tourism studies publications offer some precedents. This paper emphasises the importance of relationships between people in a festival economy, complementing and perhaps undermining stakeholder analyses. A research method is proposed, suitable for application across a diverse range of festivals and events.