A method and apparatus for determining a hot event are provided. The method includes: acquiring an event list within a predetermined time period, an event in the event list including: a time period, a keyword list, and a viewpoint list; determining a theoretical heat value of the event in the event list at a current moment based on an initial heat value of the event in the event list and a current environment heat value; calculating a difference between the current heat value and the theoretical heat value for the event in the event list; and determining an event having the difference greater than a predetermined threshold as a hot event.