The cement production in China is mainly based on the new dry cement kiln technology. The fuel used in cement production is bituminous coal with high volatile and low ash. Cement production is a high energy consumption and high emission industry. Controlling energy consumption and reducing carbon emission in cement production process is of great significance to achieve the goal of "double carbon". Coal combustion catalysts can effectively solve the problem of high energy consumption and high emission in cement production process, which has attracted wide attention in recent years. Based on the domestic and foreign research status, the composition and evaluation methods of coal combustion catalysts, the catalytic mechanism of catalysts, the research of desulfurization and denitrification coal combustion catalysts, and the application of catalysts in industrial production were systematically reviewed. Researching and improving the catalyst adding method and ensuring the dispersion in pulverized coal can improve the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst, which is the key to promote the industrial application of coal combustion catalysts.