Broad Boycott Erupts After High-Profile Cancellation
Almost **50 writers have withdrawn from the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week in protest after the festival’s governing board removed Palestinian-Australian academic and author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from the event lineup. The fallout has shaken one of Australia’s most important cultural gatherings and sparked nationwide debate about freedom of expression, cultural sensitivity and the role of political views in artistic programming.
The boycott includes a mix of prominent Australian and international writers, poets and journalists, many of whom have publicly condemned the decision as censorship and discriminatory. Several organisations and local sponsors have also pulled support for the festival in solidarity with the protesting authors.
Why Abdel-Fattah Was Removed from the Program
The Adelaide Festival Board announced that it had informed Dr Abdel-Fattah she would no longer be included in the Writers’ Week program on the grounds that her appearance “would not be culturally sensitive” in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack in December 2025. The board emphasised that it was not suggesting her writings or identity were connected to the tragedy but said ongoing community tensions informed its decision.
Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian author, law academic and social advocate, was scheduled to appear in a panel discussion about her new novel Discipline. She criticised the decision as anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, asserting that the festival had reduced her humanity by framing her identity as “culturally unsafe” simply because of her heritage and political standpoint.
Immediate Reactions: Writers, Festivals and Free Speech Advocates
The response from the literary community was swift and stark. Dozens of leading authors — including internationally recognised names — announced their withdrawal from Adelaide Writers’ Week, describing the board’s action as a betrayal of core festival values such as open debate and artistic freedom.
Among those who pulled out are award-winning Australian writers and commentators such as Michelle de Kretser, Peter Greste, Evelyn Araluen, Peter FitzSimons, Jane Caro and Hannah Kent, alongside international figures including Zadie Smith, Masha Gessen and Yanis Varoufakis.
In email communications seen by media, some Writers’ Week staff and scheduled contributors described the situation as “dark days” for the festival, asserting that the board’s decision was made without consultation with the event’s programming team and contradicts Writers’ Week’s ethos of fostering robust intellectual exchange.
Broader Backlash: Sponsors and Supporters Withdraw
The boycott has not been limited to individual authors. The Australia Institute, a significant sponsor, withdrew financial support in protest, citing concerns that the festival’s decision undermined free speech and the inclusive spirit of cultural events.
Local businesses and booksellers in Adelaide have also shown solidarity with Abdel-Fattah by promoting her work and publicly supporting authors withdrawing from the event. Independent booksellers reported increased interest in Discipline, reflecting broader public engagement with the controversy.
Political and Public Debate: Freedom vs. Sensitivity
The dispute has spilled into the political arena. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, acting leader of the Australian Greens, condemned the decision and called for Abdel-Fattah’s reinstatement, arguing that freedom of expression and the exchange of diverse ideas are central to the purpose of literary festivals and to democratic society more broadly.
Critics of the board’s action argue that the term “cultural sensitivity” has been applied too broadly, effectively silencing a prominent Palestinian voice and conflating heritage and political views with potential harm. Many commentators see the move as part of a wider tension in Australian cultural and political life over how Palestinian perspectives are included or marginalised in public discourse.
Supporters of the decision, including some community leaders, have framed it as an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions following the Bondi terror attack, though the board itself explicitly rejected any suggestion that Abdel-Fattah was linked to the tragedy.
Historical Context: A Recurring Pattern Across Festivals
The boycott at Adelaide follows similar disputes at other Australian festivals. Most notably, in August 2025 more than 50 authors withdrew from the Bendigo Writers Festival over a controversial code of conduct that many saw as constraining discussion about Gaza — a protest in which Abdel-Fattah herself participated. This episode highlighted persistent debates within the arts sector about free speech, political discourse and festival governance.
Observers note that Adelaide’s current controversy taps into these unfinished conversations, reflecting a broader cultural divide over how political issues intersect with artistic spaces and the responsibilities of cultural institutions in navigating highly charged public debates.
What Happens Next for the Festival?
The Adelaide Festival Board temporarily unpublished the official lineup for Writers’ Week and is reviewing the program in light of the boycotts and withdrawals. Organisers face mounting pressure from authors and public figures to reconsider the decision and reinstate Abdel-Fattah’s invitation.
With the event scheduled to run from February 28 to March 5, 2026, festival leadership now confronts questions of credibility, artistic integrity and public trust. Some commentators warn that a mass exodus of contributors and sponsors could imperil the event’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier literary showcases.
Voices on Both Sides of the Debate
Supporters of Abdel-Fattah’s reinstatement argue that festivals must remain spaces of free and open debate, including uncomfortable or contested viewpoints, and that excluding voices on the basis of political stance sets a dangerous precedent for censorship.
Conversely, proponents of the board’s decision emphasise the sensitive social context after recent national tragedies, advocating caution in programming decisions where community grief and tensions are heightened. However, even some defenders of the removal have acknowledged the complexity and controversy inherent in balancing cultural sensitivity with freedom of expression.
Conclusion: A Cultural Flashpoint in Australian Arts
The boycott of the Adelaide Writers’ Week marks a major flashpoint in Australian cultural life, underscoring deep tensions around political discourse, artistic freedom and the representation of diverse voices. As the festival navigates the fallout, the controversy raises fundamental questions about the purpose of literary events, the role of political views in cultural spaces, and how institutions can—or should—respond to pressures from both sides of contentious debates.
7 years in the field, from local radio to digital newsrooms. Loves chasing the stories that matter to everyday Aussies – whether it’s climate, cost of living or the next big thing in tech.
