PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether and how dietary restrictions or special dietary needs, arising not only from health concerns but also from lifestyle or religious considerations, impact the experiences of visitors at various organized events.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a qualitative research design, interpreting results of both content and sentiment analysis of 154 in-depth interviews with participants from cultural, sports and other events, originating from 18 countries and having dietary restrictions due to health, lifestyle or religious considerations.FindingsThe results underscore that the impact of dietary restrictions and special dietary needs on organized events depends on the duration and nature of the event. This significance is particularly pronounced in events lasting several hours or more and those centred around food and beverages, such as gastronomic festivals. While individuals with long-term dietary restrictions exhibit effective coping mechanisms without compromising their event experience, those with short-term restrictions feel particularly restricted. Although the provision of non-inclusive food during events may not immediately lead to participant dissatisfaction, it has the potential to impact the event's success in the future.Originality/valueThis study is the first to investigate a sufficiently large sample of interviewees with diverse dietary restrictions, encompassing more than just health-related reasons, who attend various types of events in tourist destinations. It is also the first to employ sentiment analysis to better understand the impact of dietary restrictions on visitor experiences at events. This research paves the way for further studies in this field, emphasizing specific event types and different visitor groups.