To improve the theory and practice of nuclear power plant emergency management, a bibliometric approach was applied using CiteSpace software. A total of 355 relevant journal articles were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database. By constructing mixed co-occurrence maps of researchers and institutions, keyword co-occurrence maps, keyword clustering maps, and visual timelines of keyword frequency, the research hotspots, focal areas, research forces, development paths, and frontier trends in nuclear power plant emergency management were analyzed in detail. The results indicate that, influenced by the Fukushima nuclear accident, research on nuclear power plant emergency management has gradually increased since 2011, particularly in the areas of risk assessment and decision support. The field of nuclear power plant emergency management research is characterized by its diversity, with a primary focus on accident management, performance monitoring, decision-making, and the application of simulation technologies. The interconnections between these topics fully demonstrate the complexity of nuclear power plant emergency management as an interdisciplinary field. Currently, the nuclear power sector is undergoing rapid development, and the emergency management system and capabilities of nuclear power plants are continuously improving to reduce the risks of potential accidents. Research from the perspective of interdisciplinary collaboration on emergency preparedness, response, and strategies for nuclear power plants has become a significant and emerging research direction.