The Adelaide Festival board has made a controversial decision to remove a prominent Palestinian advocate from its flagship literary event's future lineup. The move has sparked immediate backlash, including the withdrawal of a key supporter.
Festival Board Cites Cultural Sensitivity
In a statement released on January 8, 2026, the Adelaide Festival board confirmed it had cut Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from the planned program for Adelaide Writers' Week in 2026. The board justified its decision by stating it was not "culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi".
The reference to "so soon after Bondi" is widely understood to allude to recent tragic events at Bondi Junction, though the board's statement did not provide explicit details connecting the two. This reasoning has become the central point of contention in the growing dispute.
Immediate Fallout and Withdrawn Support
The fallout was swift. Following the announcement, one prominent backer of Writers' Week immediately withdrew its financial and promotional support. The identity of this backer has not been publicly disclosed, but its departure represents a significant blow to the festival's funding and prestige.
Dr Abdel-Fattah, an award-winning author, academic, and human rights advocate, was a featured guest in the initial lineup for the 2026 event. Her removal has ignited a fierce debate about censorship, artistic freedom, and the role of cultural institutions during times of international conflict.
A Growing Controversy for Adelaide's Premier Arts Event
This incident places Adelaide Writers' Week, a cornerstone of the city's renowned arts calendar, at the centre of a national cultural and political debate. The festival's board now faces mounting pressure from literary circles, free speech advocates, and sections of the public who view the decision as punitive and politically motivated.
Critics argue that the board's action sets a dangerous precedent for excluding diverse voices, particularly those speaking on contentious global issues. Supporters of the board's decision maintain that festival programming must consider broader community sentiment and trauma.
As of January 8, 2026, neither Dr Abdel-Fattah nor the withdrawing backer has made a detailed public statement. The Adelaide Festival board is expected to face continued scrutiny over its curatorial independence and commitment to hosting a diverse range of perspectives at one of Australia's most celebrated literary gatherings.
