Inclusive education has gained increasing global attention as education systems strive to ensure equitable access, participation, and learning opportunities for all learners. Although the volume of scholarly publications on inclusive education has expanded substantially, a comprehensive understanding of global research patterns, thematic evolution, and influential contributors remains fragmented. This study aims to map and analyze global research trends in inclusive education through a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications published between 2020 and 2025. Guided by three research questions, the study examines (1) global publication patterns across years, countries, and institutions, (2) dominant research themes and emerging topics through keyword co-occurrence and thematic analysis, and (3) the most influential authors, journals, and international collaboration networks in the field. Bibliometric techniques such as citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, bibliographic coupling, and keyword mapping were employed using specialized bibliometric software. The findings reveal a consistent growth in inclusive education research, with scholarly output predominantly concentrated in developed countries and leading academic institutions. Thematic analysis identifies core research areas including inclusive pedagogy, teacher preparedness, educational policy, and support for learners with diverse needs, alongside emerging themes related to digital inclusion, equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, a limited but growing pattern of international research collaboration was observed. Overall, this study offers a macro-level overview of the intellectual structure and research trajectories of inclusive education, providing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to inform future research directions and inclusive educational practices.