diff --git a/src/lib/schema.ts b/src/lib/schema.ts
index 10b6a70..0c8ea52 100644
--- a/src/lib/schema.ts
+++ b/src/lib/schema.ts
@@ -3,3 +3,11 @@ export enum Role {
     ADMIN,
     GROUP_MANAGER
 }
+
+export const SSEvents = {
+    item: {
+        update: "item_update",
+        create: "item_create",
+        delete: "item_delete"
+    }
+};
diff --git a/src/lib/server/events/emitters.ts b/src/lib/server/events/emitters.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..325a6a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/server/events/emitters.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+
+export const itemEmitter = new EventEmitter();
diff --git a/src/lib/server/events/sse.ts b/src/lib/server/events/sse.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4bcc4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/server/events/sse.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// https://github.com/sanrafa/sveltekit-sse-example/tree/main
+import type EventEmitter from "node:events";
+
+export function createSSE(retry = 0) {
+    const { readable, writable } = new TransformStream({
+        start(ctr) {
+            if (retry > 0) ctr.enqueue(`retry: ${retry}\n\n`);
+        },
+        transform({ event, data }, ctr) {
+            let msg = data?.id ? `id: ${String(data.id)}\n` : ": hi\n\n";
+            if (event) msg += `event: ${event}\n`;
+            if (typeof data === "string") {
+                msg += "data: " + data.trim().replace(/\n+/gm, "\ndata: ") + "\n\n";
+            } else {
+                msg += `data: ${JSON.stringify(data)}\n\n`;
+            }
+            ctr.enqueue(msg);
+        }
+    });
+
+    const writer = writable.getWriter();
+
+    return {
+        readable,
+        async subscribeToEvent(emitter: EventEmitter, event: string) {
+            function listener(data: any) {
+                writer.write({ event, data });
+            }
+            emitter.on(event, listener);
+            await writer.closed.catch((e) => {
+                if (e) console.error(e);
+            });
+            emitter.off(event, listener);
+        }
+    };
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/api/items/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/items/+server.ts
index 776ccf8..75144f8 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/items/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/items/+server.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import { Role } from "$lib/schema";
+import { Role, SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
 import { client } from "$lib/server/prisma";
 import { error } from "@sveltejs/kit";
 import type { RequestHandler } from "./$types";
 import { _authCheck } from "../groups/[groupId]/auth";
 import { tryDeleteImage } from "$lib/server/image-util";
+import { itemEmitter } from "$lib/server/events/emitters";
 
 export const DELETE: RequestHandler = async ({ locals, request }) => {
     const groupId = new URL(request.url).searchParams.get("groupId");
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export const DELETE: RequestHandler = async ({ locals, request }) => {
             if (item.image_url) {
                 await tryDeleteImage(item.image_url);
             }
+            itemEmitter.emit(SSEvents.item.delete, item);
         }
 
         const deletedItems = await client.item.deleteMany({
diff --git a/src/routes/api/items/[itemId]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/items/[itemId]/+server.ts
index fcbec4e..d5c1a17 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/items/[itemId]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/items/[itemId]/+server.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+import { SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
 import { getConfig } from "$lib/server/config";
+import { itemEmitter } from "$lib/server/events/emitters";
 import { getActiveMembership } from "$lib/server/group-membership";
 import { tryDeleteImage } from "$lib/server/image-util";
 import { client } from "$lib/server/prisma";
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export const DELETE: RequestHandler = async ({ params, locals }) => {
                 id: parseInt(params.itemId)
             },
             select: {
+                id: true,
                 addedBy: {
                     select: {
                         username: true
@@ -75,6 +78,8 @@ export const DELETE: RequestHandler = async ({ params, locals }) => {
             }
         });
 
+        itemEmitter.emit(SSEvents.item.delete, item);
+
         if (item.image_url) {
             await tryDeleteImage(item.image_url);
         }
@@ -136,6 +141,26 @@ export const PATCH: RequestHandler = async ({ params, locals, request }) => {
                 // @ts-expect-error params.itemId is checked in a previous function
                 id: parseInt(params.itemId)
             },
+            include: {
+                addedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                pledgedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                user: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                }
+            },
             data
         });
 
@@ -143,6 +168,8 @@ export const PATCH: RequestHandler = async ({ params, locals, request }) => {
             await tryDeleteImage(item.image_url);
         }
 
+        itemEmitter.emit(SSEvents.item.update, updatedItem);
+
         return new Response(JSON.stringify(updatedItem), { status: 200 });
     } catch (e) {
         error(404, "item id not found");
diff --git a/src/routes/api/items/updates/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/items/updates/+server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba2cf62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/api/items/updates/+server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
+import { itemEmitter } from "$lib/server/events/emitters";
+import { createSSE } from "$lib/server/events/sse";
+import type { RequestHandler } from "./$types";
+
+export const GET = (async () => {
+    const { readable, subscribeToEvent } = createSSE();
+    subscribeToEvent(itemEmitter, SSEvents.item.update);
+    subscribeToEvent(itemEmitter, SSEvents.item.create);
+    subscribeToEvent(itemEmitter, SSEvents.item.delete);
+    return new Response(readable, {
+        headers: {
+            "cache-control": "no-cache",
+            "content-type": "text/event-stream"
+        }
+    });
+}) satisfies RequestHandler;
diff --git a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.server.ts
index 5b25b9d..4993175 100644
--- a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.server.ts
@@ -6,14 +6,12 @@ import type { Prisma } from "@prisma/client";
 import { getConfig } from "$lib/server/config";
 import { getActiveMembership } from "$lib/server/group-membership";
 
-export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ locals, params, depends, url }) => {
+export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ locals, params, url }) => {
     const session = await locals.validate();
     if (!session) {
         redirect(302, `/login?ref=/wishlists/${params.username}`);
     }
 
-    depends("list:poll");
-
     const activeMembership = await getActiveMembership(session.user);
     const config = await getConfig(activeMembership.groupId);
 
diff --git a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.svelte
index bafc2ac..c2dc399 100644
--- a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/+page.svelte
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
     import type { PageData } from "./$types";
     import ItemCard from "$lib/components/wishlists/ItemCard/ItemCard.svelte";
     import ClaimFilterChip from "$lib/components/wishlists/chips/ClaimFilter.svelte";
-    import { goto, invalidate } from "$app/navigation";
+    import { goto } from "$app/navigation";
     import { page } from "$app/stores";
-    import { listen, idle } from "$lib/stores/idle";
     import { onDestroy, onMount } from "svelte";
     import { flip } from "svelte/animate";
     import { quintOut } from "svelte/easing";
@@ -13,8 +12,11 @@
     import empty from "$lib/assets/no_wishes.svg";
     import SortBy from "$lib/components/wishlists/chips/SortBy.svelte";
     import { hash, hashItems, viewedItems } from "$lib/stores/viewed-items";
+    import { SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
 
     export let data: PageData;
+    type Item = PageData["items"][0];
+    let items: Item[] = data.items;
 
     const [send, receive] = crossfade({
         duration: (d) => Math.sqrt(d * 200),
@@ -34,38 +36,47 @@
         }
     });
 
-    // Poll for updates
-    listen({
-        timer: 5 * 60 * 1000 // 5 minutes
-    });
-
-    let polling = true;
-    let pollTimeout: number;
+    let eventSource: EventSource;
+    onMount(async () => {
+        const userHash = await hash(data.listOwner.id + data.groupId);
+        $viewedItems[userHash] = await hashItems(items);
 
-    const pollUpdate = () => {
-        if ($idle) {
-            polling = false;
-            return;
-        }
+        subscribeToEvents();
+    });
+    onDestroy(() => eventSource?.close());
+
+    const subscribeToEvents = () => {
+        eventSource = new EventSource("/api/items/updates");
+        eventSource.addEventListener(SSEvents.item.update, (e) => {
+            const message = JSON.parse(e.data) as Item;
+            updateItems(message);
+        });
+        eventSource.addEventListener(SSEvents.item.delete, (e) => {
+            const message = JSON.parse(e.data) as Item;
+            removeItem(message);
+        });
+        eventSource.addEventListener(SSEvents.item.create, (e) => {
+            const message = JSON.parse(e.data) as Item;
+            addItem(message);
+        });
+    };
 
-        //@ts-expect-error setTimeout returns number in web
-        pollTimeout = setTimeout(async () => {
-            await invalidate("list:poll");
-            pollUpdate();
-        }, 5000);
+    const updateItems = (updatedItem: Item) => {
+        items = items.map((item) => {
+            if (item.id === updatedItem.id) {
+                return { ...item, ...updatedItem };
+            }
+            return item;
+        });
     };
 
-    onMount(async () => {
-        const userHash = await hash(data.listOwner.id + data.groupId);
-        $viewedItems[userHash] = await hashItems(data.items);
-        pollUpdate();
-    });
-    onDestroy(() => clearTimeout(pollTimeout));
+    const removeItem = (removedItem: Item) => {
+        items = items.filter((item) => item.id !== removedItem.id);
+    };
 
-    $: if (!$idle && !polling) {
-        polling = true;
-        pollUpdate();
-    }
+    const addItem = (addedItem: Item) => {
+        items = [...items, addedItem];
+    };
 </script>
 
 {#if data.approvals.length > 0}
@@ -80,7 +91,7 @@
     <hr class="pb-2" />
 {/if}
 
-{#if data.items.length === 0}
+{#if items.length === 0}
     <div class="flex flex-col items-center justify-center space-y-4 pt-4">
         <img class="w-3/4 md:w-1/3" alt="Two people looking in an empty box" src={empty} />
         <p class="text-2xl">No wishes yet</p>
@@ -97,20 +108,20 @@
     <!-- items -->
     <div class="flex flex-col space-y-4">
         {#if data.listOwner.isMe}
-            {#each data.items as item (item.id)}
+            {#each items as item (item.id)}
                 <div in:receive={{ key: item.id }} out:send|local={{ key: item.id }} animate:flip={{ duration: 200 }}>
                     <ItemCard {item} showClaimedName={data.showClaimedName} user={data.user} />
                 </div>
             {/each}
         {:else}
             <!-- unclaimed-->
-            {#each data.items.filter((item) => !item.pledgedById) as item (item.id)}
+            {#each items.filter((item) => !item.pledgedById) as item (item.id)}
                 <div in:receive={{ key: item.id }} out:send|local={{ key: item.id }} animate:flip={{ duration: 200 }}>
                     <ItemCard {item} showClaimedName={data.showClaimedName} user={data.user} />
                 </div>
             {/each}
             <!-- claimed -->
-            {#each data.items.filter((item) => item.pledgedById) as item (item.id)}
+            {#each items.filter((item) => item.pledgedById) as item (item.id)}
                 <div in:receive={{ key: item.id }} out:send|local={{ key: item.id }} animate:flip={{ duration: 200 }}>
                     <ItemCard {item} showClaimedName={data.showClaimedName} user={data.user} />
                 </div>
diff --git a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/edit/[itemId]/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/edit/[itemId]/+page.server.ts
index a5714a6..f0ba338 100644
--- a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/edit/[itemId]/+page.server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/edit/[itemId]/+page.server.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { client } from "$lib/server/prisma";
 import { getConfig } from "$lib/server/config";
 import { getActiveMembership } from "$lib/server/group-membership";
 import { createImage, tryDeleteImage } from "$lib/server/image-util";
+import { itemEmitter } from "$lib/server/events/emitters";
+import { SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ locals, params }) => {
     const session = await locals.validate();
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ export const actions: Actions = {
             }
         });
 
-        await client.item.update({
+        const updatedItem = await client.item.update({
             where: {
                 id: parseInt(params.itemId)
             },
@@ -90,9 +92,31 @@ export const actions: Actions = {
                 url,
                 image_url: filename || image_url,
                 note
+            },
+            include: {
+                addedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                pledgedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                user: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                }
             }
         });
 
+        itemEmitter.emit(SSEvents.item.update, updatedItem);
+
         if (filename && item.image_url && item.image_url !== filename) {
             await tryDeleteImage(item.image_url);
         }
diff --git a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/new/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/new/+page.server.ts
index e502d8c..13f4e3d 100644
--- a/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/new/+page.server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/wishlists/[username]/new/+page.server.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { client } from "$lib/server/prisma";
 import { getConfig } from "$lib/server/config";
 import { getActiveMembership } from "$lib/server/group-membership";
 import { createImage } from "$lib/server/image-util";
+import { SSEvents } from "$lib/schema";
+import { itemEmitter } from "$lib/server/events/emitters";
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ locals, params }) => {
     const session = await locals.validate();
@@ -69,26 +71,48 @@ export const actions: Actions = {
 
         const filename = await createImage(session.user.username, image);
 
-        await client.user.update({
+        const user = await client.user.findUniqueOrThrow({
             where: {
                 username: params.username
-            },
+            }
+        });
+
+        const item = await client.item.create({
             data: {
-                items: {
-                    create: {
-                        name,
-                        price,
-                        url,
-                        note,
-                        image_url: filename || image_url,
-                        addedById: session.user.userId,
-                        approved: params.username === session.user.username || config.suggestions.method !== "approval",
-                        groupId: activeMembership.groupId
+                userId: user.id,
+                name,
+                price,
+                url,
+                note,
+                image_url: filename || image_url,
+                addedById: session.user.userId,
+                approved: params.username === session.user.username || config.suggestions.method !== "approval",
+                groupId: activeMembership.groupId
+            },
+            include: {
+                addedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                pledgedBy: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
+                    }
+                },
+                user: {
+                    select: {
+                        username: true,
+                        name: true
                     }
                 }
             }
         });
 
+        itemEmitter.emit(SSEvents.item.create, item);
+
         redirect(302, `/wishlists/${params.username}`);
     }
 };