Google Maps is introducing a feature allowing users to create public events linked to specific locations, potentially competing with Facebook events.
While this feature hasn’t been officially announced, it is confirmed through a dedicated help center article, and some users have already reported seeing it in search results.
Events can be added to a Google Maps listing via the Contribute tab in the Android app. From there, users can navigate to another tab for events and tap on ‘add a public event’ to begin creating their event.
When creating an event, users can specify details such as name, location, start time, end time, category, description, website, and photos.
Google began highlighting public events in Maps last year, but until now, there hasn’t been a way for regular users to contribute event information.
Here’s what it looks like when a public event appears in Google Maps:
![Google Maps Event Screenshot]
Google notes that this feature might not be available in some regions. Additionally, Android Police reports that access to the feature is inconsistent even among users in the same area.
It’s unclear who exactly has access to the feature and why. It could be related to whether a user is a Local Guide or not.
Restricting this feature to users with a history of contributing accurate information to Maps would be a smart move on Google’s part. If everyone had the ability to add a public event to Google Maps, it could quickly be subject to abuse.
