Overview
- The Adelaide Festival board confirmed the 2026 Writers' Week will not proceed and said the remaining director would resign.
- More than 180 scheduled speakers, including Zadie Smith and Jacinda Ardern, withdrew in protest over Abdel‑Fattah’s removal.
- Louise Adler quit as Writers' Week director, citing “extreme and repressive” lobbying and saying she would not be party to silencing writers.
- Premier Peter Malinauskas said he made his opposition to Abdel‑Fattah’s appearance clear but denied directing or threatening the board.
- The board apologized to Abdel‑Fattah, which she rejected, and former chair Judy Potter is set to lead a new board to safeguard the wider festival.