Adelaide Writers Week Cancelled to Save 2026 Arts Festival
Internal documents reveal that the cancellation of Adelaide Writers Week (AWW) was necessary to safeguard the 2026 Adelaide Festival. The turmoil began on 8 January when the festival board decided to exclude Palestinian Australian scholar Randa Abdel-Fattah from the AWW lineup, leading to a significant number of guest writers and companies withdrawing. On 10 January, three board members stepped down, followed by chair Tracey Whiting on 11 January. An extraordinary meeting on 12 January highlighted the risk of a 'cascade of withdrawals' jeopardizing the festival's future. AWW director Louise Adler noted that only 12 out of 165 sessions were still scheduled and called for an apology to Abdel-Fattah. The board eventually decided to cancel AWW 2026, influenced by a letter from SA Premier Peter Malinauskas dated 2 January.
Key facts
- Adelaide Writers Week cancelled to save 2026 Adelaide Festival.
- Randa Abdel-Fattah removed from AWW program on 8 January.
- Mass withdrawals by writers, academics, and major theatre/dance companies.
- Three board members resigned on 10 January; chair Tracey Whiting resigned on 11 January.
- Extraordinary board meeting on 12 January warned of 'cascade of withdrawals'.
- AWW director Louise Adler resigned after urging full apology and cancellation.
- SA Premier Peter Malinauskas's 2 January letter was primary catalyst.
- Adelaide Festival contributes $62.6m gross expenditure to SA economy in 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Louise Adler
- Matthew Lutton
- Tracey Whiting
- Julian Hobba
- Peter Malinauskas
Institutions
- Adelaide Writers Week
- Adelaide Festival
- Adelaide Festival Board
- Guardian Australia
Locations
- Adelaide
- South Australia
- Australia