A new one-dimensional NiIIcoordination polymer of 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, namelycatena-poly[[aqua(sulfato-κO)hemi(μ-ethane-1,2-diol-κ2O:O′)[μ3-1,3,5-tris(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene-κ3N3,N3′,N3′′]nickel(II)] ethane-1,2-diol monosolvate monohydrate], {[Ni(SO4)(C18H18N6)(C2H6O2)0.5(H2O)]·C2H6O2·H2O}n, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The NiIIcation is coordinated by three N atoms of three different 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene ligands, one O atom of an ethane-1,2-diol molecule, by a sulfate anion and a water molecule, forming a distorted octahedral NiN3O3coordination geometry. The tripodal 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene ligands link the NiIIcations, generating metal–organic chains running along the [100] direction. Adjacent chains are further connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in a two-dimensional supermolecular architecture running parallel to the (001) plane. Another water molecule and a second ethane-1,2-diol molecule are non-coordinating and are linked to the coordinating sulfate ionsviaO—H...O hydrogen bonds.