Building a sustainable future for Indonesia's new capital, the Nusantara capital city (IKN)

• Analysis of sustainability integration in IKN’s development aligned with SDGs. • Co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence analysis reveal key research trends in IKN. • VOSviewer visualizes collaborative networks and trends in IKN sustainability research. • Sustainability studies in IKN reveal gaps in socio-environmental focus. The relocation of Indonesia's capital to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) presents a strategic opportunity to promote sustainability practices amid the accelerating pace of urbanization. This study conducted a systematic review by synthesizing 56 Scopus-indexed studies using a combined bibliometric and qualitative approach. Co-authorship networks and keyword co-occurrence were examined using VOSviewer. The four studies with the highest number of citations were then analyzed to identify the most influential scientific findings. A risk of bias assessment was performed using Robvis to evaluate the credibility and transparency of the available evidence. The analytical results revealed distinct research clusters investigating sustainable urban planning, green infrastructure development, environmental protection, and smart mobility systems that correspond to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11, 13, and 15. The field of sustainable land management continues to face challenges that prevent the achievement of equal land distribution, the protection of indigenous communities, and the creation of pathways for social inclusion, despite technological and ecological progress. The review shows that participatory governance, along with interdisciplinary collaboration and flexible policy development, will build social, ecological, and technological resilience for the future. Through its evidence-based planning system, which promotes inclusive decision-making, the archipelagic nation is poised to become a global leader in sustainable development.