First published in April 1984 in Norwich, Norfolk,[2] the name was a result of a friend enquiring on "what news on the Rialto?"
[1] The first edition included poetry by Margaret Atwood, George Barker, Steve Sant, Gavin Ewart and Miroslav Holub, and four poems by Carol Ann Duffy who went on to become Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2019.
[1][3] In 1996 The Rialto made its first foray into book publishing, producing a limited run of "How it turned out" by Frank Redpath.
The Rialto has an Advisory Board consisting of Rishi Dastidar, Matthew Howard, Colin Hughes, Claire Kidman, Michael Mackmin Esther Morgan and Nick Stone.
Cover art has included the likes of Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Sutherland, Paula Rego, Angie Lewin, Dee Nickerson and Eric Ravilious, as well as many pieces by new and emerging print-makers, artists and photographers.