Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Adelaide Writers Week Cancelled After Palestinian Author Disinvited
A big writers festival in Australia called Adelaide Writers Week was canceled because over 180 authors decided not to attend.
This happened after the festival decided not to invite a Palestinian author named Randa Abdel-Fattah.
The festival said they did this because they were worried about being sensitive after a recent shooting in Bondi.
But many people, including the festival's director and lots of other authors, think this is wrong.
They say it's about free speech and that the festival is being unfair.
Because of this, many authors decided not to come to the festival, and some people on the festival's board quit.
The Australian government is also talking about making new laws to stop hate speech after the shooting.
Adelaide Writers Week was canceled after 180 authors withdrew in protest of the disinvitation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah.
The festival board cited cultural sensitivity concerns post-Bondi shooting for the disinvitation, while Abdel-Fattah called it censorship and anti-Palestinian racism.
Festival director Louise Adler resigned in protest, stating she could not 'be party to silencing writers.'
All remaining board members resigned, and the festival apologized for how the decision was represented but not for the decision itself.
The Australian government announced a national day of mourning on January 22 and is considering tightening hate speech laws and launching a royal commission into antisemitism.
- Who
- Randa Abdel-Fattah, Adelaide Festival board, 180 authors, Australian government
- What
- Cancellation of Adelaide Writers Week after disinviting Palestinian author
- When
- January 13, 2024 (cancellation), January 22 (national mourning)
- Where
- Adelaide, Australia
- Why
- Cultural sensitivity concerns post-Bondi shooting and allegations of censorship
Free Speech Advocates
Festival Board and Supporters
Reason for Disinvitation
Free Speech Advocates
Censorship and anti-Palestinian racism
Festival Board and Supporters
Cultural sensitivity concerns post-Bondi shooting
Festival Cancellation
Free Speech Advocates
Unjustified suppression of free speech
Festival Board and Supporters
Necessary to maintain cultural sensitivity
- Event
- Adelaide Writers Week
- Author Disinvited
- Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Resignations
- Festival director, board members, chairperson
- Boycotting Authors
- 180 international and Australian authors
- Date of Cancellation
- January 13, 2024
- Reason for Disinvitation
- Cultural sensitivity concerns post-Bondi shooting
- Bondi Shooting Victims
- 15 people killed
- Government Response
- Tightening hate speech laws and national inquiry into antisemitism
