ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Adelaide Writers' Week Disinvitation Led to Festival Crisis After Government Intervention

festival-fair · 2026-03-19

Internal documents reveal that the Adelaide Festival's Writers' Week experienced significant disruption following the disinvitation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. The decision came after the state premier intervened in response to an antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach. Minutes from board meetings in December and January show the situation escalated into a major public relations issue for the festival.

Key facts

  • Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited from Adelaide Writers' Week
  • The decision followed intervention by the South Australian premier
  • The action was taken after an antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach
  • Internal meeting minutes show the situation became a public relations disaster
  • The documents cover six crucial board meetings in December and January

Entities

Artists

  • Randa Abdel-Fattah

Institutions

  • Adelaide Festival
  • Adelaide Writers' Week

Locations

  • Adelaide
  • Bondi Beach
  • Australia

Sources