We love STREETSIDE but we heard you: the FOMO of whether to be on site or pounding the streets for it on the Festival’s Friday night was growing just too strong.

This year, mark your diaries for Friday 9 May – a whole week earlier - as Tāmaki Makaurau’s writers, storytellers, musicians and more take over BRITOMART for a riotous evening of words and creativity and declare the city ‘open’ for the packed bookish days ahead.

It’s energetic, it’s surprising, it’s fun, and it’s a dedicated celebration of our city’s incredible artistic scene that’s free and open to all to be part of.

Look out for the programme being released in April to plan your route through the evening, or just turn up and join the ride.

Supported by Britomart Group.