diff --git a/.luarc.json b/.luarc.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d06245585f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.luarc.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LuaLS/vscode-lua/master/setting/schema.json",
+  "runtime": {
+    "version": "LuaJIT"
+  },
+  "workspace": {
+    "library": [
+      "$VIMRUNTIME",
+      "${3rd}/luv/library"
+    ],
+    "checkThirdParty": false
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.stylua.toml b/.stylua.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c4b052ab72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.stylua.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+column_width = 80
+indent_type = "Spaces"
+indent_width = 2
+quote_style = "AutoPreferDouble"
+call_parentheses = "None"
diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/options.vim b/autoload/vimtex/options.vim
index 35f11ed700..69abf3d3b0 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/options.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/options.vim
@@ -311,7 +311,9 @@ function! vimtex#options#init() abort " {{{1
   call s:init_option('vimtex_lint_chktex_ignore_warnings',
         \ '-n1 -n3 -n8 -n25 -n36')
 
-  call s:init_option('vimtex_parser_bib_backend', 'bibtex')
+  call s:init_option('vimtex_parser_bib_backend',
+        \ has('nvim') ? 'lua' : 'bibtex'
+        \)
   call s:init_option('vimtex_parser_cmd_separator_check',
         \ 'vimtex#cmd#parser_separator_check')
 
diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/parser/bib.vim b/autoload/vimtex/parser/bib.vim
index ce83e1cd9c..63ea16a0fb 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/parser/bib.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/parser/bib.vim
@@ -250,6 +250,18 @@ endfunction
 
 " }}}1
 
+function! s:parse_with_lua(file) abort " {{{1
+  if !has('nvim')
+    call vimtex#log#error(
+          \ 'bib parser backend "lua" only works with neovim!')
+    return []
+  endif
+
+  return luaeval('require("vimtex.bibparser").parse(_A)', a:file)
+endfunction
+
+" }}}1
+
 function! s:parse_with_vim(file) abort " {{{1
   " Adheres to the format description found here:
   " http://www.bibtex.org/Format/
diff --git a/doc/vimtex.txt b/doc/vimtex.txt
index 715b941235..5b407a2a2e 100644
--- a/doc/vimtex.txt
+++ b/doc/vimtex.txt
@@ -1310,8 +1310,14 @@ OPTIONS                                                        *vimtex-options*
   This option sets the desired default backend for parsing bibliographies.
   This is used e.g. for gathering completion candidates. Possible values:
 
-    `bibtex`:   The fastest, but most hacky solution. Should work well in most
-              cases.
+    `bibtex`:   The fastest, but most "hacky" solution. Still, time has proved
+              that this works well!
+
+    `vim`:      The slowest but perhaps most robust solution, as it does not
+              require any external utilities.
+
+    `lua`:      A Lua implementation of the Vim backend. About as fast as the
+              `bibtex` parser, but this only works on Neovim.
 
     `bibparse`: Also fast, but might be more robust.
 
@@ -1335,9 +1341,6 @@ OPTIONS                                                        *vimtex-options*
                     (see |if_pyth| and |py3|) and that the `bibtexparser`
                     Python module is installed and available.
 
-    `vim`:      The slowest but perhaps most robust solution, as it does not
-              require any external utilities.
-
   Some people may want to conditionally change this option if a backend is
   available. For example: >vim
 
@@ -1345,7 +1348,10 @@ OPTIONS                                                        *vimtex-options*
       let g:vimtex_parser_bib_backend = 'bibparse'
     endif
 <
-  Default value: `bibtex`
+  Default value:
+
+    Vim:    `bibtex`
+    Neovim: `lua`
 
 *g:vimtex_parser_cmd_separator_check*
   This option specifies the policy for deciding whether successive groups of
diff --git a/lua/vimtex/bibparser.lua b/lua/vimtex/bibparser.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e4c060ad8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/vimtex/bibparser.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+local function format_line(title, object)
+  return "**" .. string.upper(title) .. "**" .. ": " .. object .. "\n"
+end
+
+local function format_entry(entry)
+  local info = ""
+  local _entry = {}
+  local prioritized_keys = { "title", "author" }
+
+  for _, key in pairs(prioritized_keys) do
+    if entry[key] ~= nil then
+      info = info .. format_line(key, entry[key])
+    end
+  end
+
+  local i = 0
+  for k, v in pairs(entry) do
+    if not vim.tbl_contains(prioritized_keys, k) then
+      i = i + 1
+      _entry[i] = format_line(k, v)
+    end
+  end
+  table.sort(_entry)
+
+  for _, a in ipairs(_entry) do
+    info = info .. a
+  end
+
+  return info
+end
+
+---@param head 0-index
+local function get_key(body, head)
+  local matches = vim.fn.matchlist(body, [[^\v([-_:0-9a-zA-Z]+)\s*\=\s*]], head)
+  if vim.tbl_isempty(matches) then
+    return "", -1
+  end
+
+  return string.lower(matches[2]), head + vim.fn.strlen(matches[1])
+end
+
+local function parse_string(line, current, strings)
+  current.level = current.level
+    + vim.fn.count(line, "{")
+    - vim.fn.count(line, "}")
+  if current.level > 0 then
+    current.body = current.body .. line
+    return false
+  end
+
+  local body = current.body .. vim.fn.matchstr(line, [[.*\ze}]])
+
+  local matches = vim.fn.matchlist(body, [[\v^\s*(\S+)\s*\=\s*"(.*)"\s*$]])
+  if not vim.tbl_isempty(matches) and not vim.fn.empty(matches[2]) == 1 then
+    strings[matches[2]] = matches[3]
+  end
+
+  matches = vim.fn.matchlist(body, [[\v^\s*(\S+)\s*\=\s*\{(.*)\}\s*$]])
+  if not vim.tbl_isempty(matches) and not vim.fn.empty(matches[2]) == 1 then
+    strings[matches[2]] = matches[3]
+  end
+
+  return true
+end
+
+local function parse_entry(line, current, entries)
+  current.level = current.level
+    + vim.fn.count(line, "{")
+    - vim.fn.count(line, "}")
+  if current.level > 0 then
+    current.body = current.body .. line
+    return false
+  end
+
+  current.body = current.body .. vim.fn.matchstr(line, [[.*\ze}]])
+  table.insert(entries, current)
+  return true
+end
+
+local function parse_type(file, lnum, line, current, strings, entries)
+  local matches = vim.fn.matchlist(line, [[\v^\@(\w+)\s*\{\s*(.*)]])
+  if vim.tbl_isempty(matches) then
+    return true
+  end
+
+  local type = string.lower(matches[2])
+  local types = { preamble = 1, comment = 1 }
+  if types[type] ~= nil then
+    return true
+  end
+
+  current.level = 1
+  current.body = ""
+  current.vimtex_file = file
+  current.vimtex_lnum = lnum
+  current.type = type
+
+  if current.type == "string" then
+    return parse_string(matches[3], current, strings)
+  end
+
+  matches = vim.fn.matchlist(matches[3], [[\v^([^, ]*)\s*,\s*(.*)]])
+  current.key = matches[2]
+  if not vim.fn.empty(matches[3]) == 1 then
+    return parse_entry(matches[3], current, entries)
+  end
+
+  return false
+end
+
+---@param head 0-index
+local function get_value_string(body, head, strings)
+  local value
+  local head_1
+  if body:sub(head + 1, head + 1) == "{" then
+    local sum = 1
+    local i1 = head + 1
+    local i0 = i1
+
+    while sum > 0 do
+      local match
+      local res = vim.fn.matchstrpos(body, [=[[{}]]=], i1)
+      match, _, i1 = res[1], res[2], res[3]
+      res = nil
+
+      if i1 < 0 then
+        break
+      end
+
+      i0 = i1
+      sum = sum + (match == "{" and 1 or -1)
+    end
+
+    value = body:sub(head + 1 + 1, i0 - 2 + 1)
+    head_1 = vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^\s*]], i0)
+  elseif body:sub(head + 1, head + 1) == [["]] then
+    local index = vim.fn.match(body, [[\\\@<!"]], head + 1)
+    if index < 0 then
+      return "bibparser.lua: get_value_string failed", ""
+    end
+
+    value = body:sub(head + 1 + 1, index - 1 + 1)
+    head_1 = vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^\s*]], index + 1)
+    return value, head_1
+  elseif vim.regex([[^\w]]):match_str(body:sub(head + 1)) then
+    value = vim.fn.matchstr(body, [[^\x\+]], head)
+    head_1 = vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^\s*]], head + vim.fn.strlen(value))
+    value = vim.fn.get(strings, value, [[@(]] .. value .. [[)]])
+  else
+    head_1 = head
+  end
+
+  if body:sub(head + 1, head + 1) == "#" then
+    head_1 = vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^\s*]], head_1 + 1)
+    local vadd
+    vadd, head_1 = get_value_string(body, head_1, strings)
+    value = value .. vadd
+  end
+
+  return value, vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^,\s*]], head_1)
+end
+
+local function get_value(body, head, strings)
+  if vim.regex([[\d]]):match_str(body:sub(head + 1, head + 1)) then
+    local value = vim.fn.matchstr(body, [[^\d\+]], head)
+    local head_1 = vim.fn.matchend(body, [[^\s*,\s*]], head + vim.fn.len(value))
+    return value, head_1
+  end
+
+  return get_value_string(body, head, strings)
+end
+
+local function parse_entry_body(entry, strings)
+  entry.level = nil
+
+  local key = ""
+  local pos = vim.fn.matchend(entry.body, [[^\s*]])
+  while pos >= 0 do
+    if vim.fn.empty(key) == 1 then
+      key, pos = get_key(entry.body, pos)
+    else
+      local value
+      value, pos = get_value(entry.body, pos, strings)
+      entry[key] = value
+      key = ""
+    end
+  end
+
+  entry.body = nil
+  return entry
+end
+
+local M = {}
+M.parse = function(file)
+  if file == nil or not vim.fn.filereadable(file) then
+    return {}
+  end
+
+  local entries = {}
+  local strings = {}
+  local current = {}
+
+  local lines = vim.fn.readfile(file)
+  for lnum = 1, #lines do
+    local line = lines[lnum]
+
+    if vim.tbl_isempty(current) then
+      if parse_type(file, lnum, line, current, strings, entries) then
+        current = {}
+      end
+      goto continue
+    end
+
+    if current.type == "string" then
+      if parse_string(line, current, strings) then
+        current = {}
+      end
+    else
+      if parse_entry(line, current, entries) then
+        current = {}
+      end
+    end
+
+    ::continue::
+  end
+
+  local result = {}
+  for _, v in pairs(entries) do
+    local entry = parse_entry_body(v, strings)
+    entry.formatted_info = format_entry(entry)
+    table.insert(result, entry)
+  end
+
+  return result
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/test/test-completion-bibtex-speed/Makefile b/test/test-completion-bibtex-speed/Makefile
index 926123fdce..c1ca76c20a 100644
--- a/test/test-completion-bibtex-speed/Makefile
+++ b/test/test-completion-bibtex-speed/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ MYVIM ?= nvim --clean --headless
 test:
 	@INMAKE=1                      $(MYVIM) -u bibspeed.vim
 	@INMAKE=1 BACKEND=vim          $(MYVIM) -u bibspeed.vim
+	@INMAKE=1 BACKEND=lua          $(MYVIM) -u bibspeed.vim
 	@#INMAKE=1 BACKEND=bibparse     $(MYVIM) -u bibspeed.vim
 	@#INMAKE=1 BACKEND=bibtexparser $(MYVIM) -u bibspeed.vim
 	@rm -f nvim_servernames.log