A major Australian literary event, the Adelaide Writers’ Week, has stopped all operations for its 2026 season. This happened after the festival board removed Palestinian-Australian author Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah from the speaker list. The board said the choice was based on "cultural sensitivity" following a violent event in Bondi. However, this move led to a massive protest from the writing community. Within days, about 180 writers—roughly 70% of the invited guests—refused to attend. This caused the festival to fall apart. High-ranking leaders, including the festival director and the board chair, quit their jobs. This event has started a large debate about whether arts festivals should be free from political pressure or if they must follow government standards of sensitivity.
The total collapse of the event shows how quickly a cultural institution can fail when it loses the trust of its core participants.
Timeline of Events and Key Figures
The situation moved quickly over a period of one week in January 2026.
January 9, 2026: The Adelaide Festival board removes Randa Abdel-Fattah from the Writers' Week program. They cited concerns about social media posts she made involving a Palestinian flag image during a time of public tragedy.
January 11–12, 2026: Large numbers of authors, including Jane Caro, Trent Dalton, and Peter Greste, withdraw in support of Abdel-Fattah.
January 12, 2026: The Director of Writers’ Week stands down. Norman Schueler of the Jewish Community Council confirms his group lobbied for the removal.
January 13, 2026: Louise Adler, a well-known literary figure, quits her position in protest.
January 14, 2026: The Adelaide Festival officially announces that Writers' Week is cancelled.
| Key Actor | Role | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah | Author | Removed from the festival program. |
| Peter Malinauskas | SA Premier | Supported the board's decision to remove the author. |
| Jo Dyer | Former Director | Questioned if the event could survive such a move. |
| Louise Adler | Board Member | Resigned, citing issues with how the author was treated. |
| Adelaide Festival Board | Organizers | Cancelled the entire Writers' Week event on Jan 14. |
The Choice to Remove the Author
The board stated that they did not think Dr. Abdel-Fattah was linked to the Bondi tragedy. However, they felt it was not "culturally sensitive" to keep her on the program at that time. This was due to an image she shared online. Dr. Abdel-Fattah told the ABC that she posted the image before the full details of the attacks were known.
The South Australian Government has stated they did not force the board to make this choice. However, Premier Peter Malinauskas publicly supported the board. He also noted that the author had previously asked for a pro-Israeli writer to be removed from a different event.
"The board said… it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time." — Official Board Statement
The Mass Withdrawal of Writers
The reaction from the literary world was swift. When Dr. Abdel-Fattah was cut, many other writers felt this was an attack on free speech. Over 180 speakers pulled out of the event. This left the festival with almost no program to show the public.
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Reason for leaving: Writers said the board’s choice stripped the author of her "humanity and agency."
Scale: 70% of all invited authors left the festival in a few days.
Impact: Without these writers, the festival lost its main attraction, leading to the final cancellation.
Was the board’s focus on "sensitivity" a genuine concern for the public, or was it a reaction to political lobbying?
Political Support vs. Artistic Freedom
There is a clear divide between how government officials and art leaders viewed the situation. Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King supported the festival's choice. She stated that the arts sector needed to correct "antisemitic narratives."
On the other side, authors and publishers argued that a writers' festival should be a place for difficult conversations, even if they are uncomfortable. The resignation of Louise Adler, a member of the Progressive Jewish Council of Australia, added weight to the argument that the board had gone too far.
| Viewpoint | Main Argument |
|---|---|
| Government/Lobby Groups | Festivals must be sensitive to the public mood and avoid funding controversial views during tragedies. |
| Writers/Artists | Removing an author for their political speech is "censorship" and ruins the integrity of a literary event. |
Future Appearances in Other Cities
While the Adelaide event failed, other cities have chosen a different path. Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah has been invited to speak at the Newcastle Writers Festival and the Sydney Writers’ Festival later in 2026.
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In Newcastle, she will talk about her 2025 book, Discipline.
In Sydney, she is set to appear in two separate sessions.
These festivals are moving forward with her involvement, even after the events in Adelaide.
This difference in choice raises a question: Why did Adelaide find her presence impossible to manage while Sydney and Newcastle did not?
Expert Analysis
Experts in the arts sector suggest that the collapse of the Adelaide event shows a "chilling effect." Jo Dyer, a former director, mentioned that the viability of the event is now at risk because the community of writers no longer trusts the leadership.
The Jewish Council of Australia (a progressive group) showed internal division by having members like Louise Adler quit the festival board. This suggests that the "Jewish community" was not of one single mind regarding the author’s removal. The investigation shows that the primary cause of the festival's death was not the author herself, but the reaction of the writing community to the board’s decision-making process.
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Findings and Next Steps
The evidence shows that the Adelaide Writers' Week did not close because of a lack of money or interest. It closed because the board made a choice that the majority of its participants found unacceptable.
Loss of Leadership: The festival must now find a new board and a new director after the mass resignations.
Reputation Damage: The event may struggle to invite famous authors in the future if they fear being "cancelled" or if they disagree with the board's rules on speech.
Government Role: The South Australian government has appointed a new board, but they will need to prove they do not control the artistic choices of the festival to win back the writers.
Author Status: Dr. Abdel-Fattah remains a programmed author in other major Australian cities, suggesting that the "sensitivity" concerns were specific to the Adelaide leadership at that time.
Sources
BBC News: Randa Abdel-Fattah: How Adelaide Writers' Week imploded — Context on the board lobbying and director resignation.
The Guardian: An Australian writers’ festival cut a Palestinian author… Then it fell apart — Details on the 70% withdrawal rate and Louise Adler's resignation.
ABC News: Adelaide Festival board members, chair quit after author's cancellation — Information on the Premier's support and Jo Dyer's comments.
Associated Press (AP): Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw — Reporting on the final cancellation and the total number of withdrawals.
Australian Financial Review: Anti-Zionist author to appear at NSW writers festival — Details on the Newcastle Writers Festival invitation.
News.com.au: Minister supports festival decision to axe writer — Quotes from Federal Minister Madeleine King.
RUSSH: Randa Abdel-Fattah to headline Sydney Writers’ Festival 2026 — Confirmation of the Sydney program.
