Overview
- The Adelaide Festival board said the 2026 Writers’ Week cannot proceed after more than 180 participants withdrew, and it apologised to Randa Abdel‑Fattah for how its decision was represented.
- Director Louise Adler resigned in protest, and multiple board members including chair Tracey Whiting quit, with remaining directors also stepping down as a new board is tasked with safeguarding the wider festival.
- Abdel‑Fattah rejected the board’s apology as disingenuous and has engaged lawyers, with a legal notice demanding documents and explanations and flagging potential litigation.
- South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas backed the removal of Abdel‑Fattah but said he did not direct the board, while governance concerns surfaced over the board’s composition after resignations.
- High‑profile withdrawals included Jacinda Ardern, Zadie Smith, Percival Everett and Yanis Varoufakis, and at least one sponsor pulled support as calls grew for the author’s reinstatement.