A major Australian arts festival has been hit by a large boycott after organisers cancelled the invitation of a Palestinian‑Australian writer. Dozens of authors say they will no longer take part in the event in protest.
The controversy began after the Adelaide Festival removed Dr Randa Abdel‑Fattah from the Writers’ Week programme. Festival leaders said continuing to host her so soon after the Bondi Beach mass shooting would not be “culturally sensitive. The tragedy in December killed 15 people at a Jewish festival event.
Dr Abdel‑Fattah is a well‑known writer and academic who studies Islamophobia and issues related to Palestine. She strongly criticised the decision. Her lawyers wrote to the festival asking for a clear explanation of why she was dropped. She said the move was unfair and discriminatory, and she denied any link between her work and the Bondi attack.
In response to her removal, many authors pulled out of the festival. Reports say the number of writers and cultural figures withdrawing has grown steadily, with more than 70 saying they will not take part. Some cancellations affected events across the festival, including writing sessions and music performances.
One author who withdrew wrote on social media that barring Dr Abdel‑Fattah sent “a divisive and plainly discriminatory message” by treating Palestinian voices as insensitive. The protest reflects wider concerns among artists about free speech and diversity of views.
The fallout has reached the festival’s leadership. Several board members and the chair have resigned in recent days. They said stepping down would allow the organisation to refresh its leadership and respond to the crisis.
Supporters of the board’s decision say it was aimed at protecting community harmony after the Bondi tragedy. A federal cabinet minister publicly backed the choice to exclude Dr Abdel‑Fattah and said she was surprised the author had been invited in the first place. She said the appearance should not be reinstated.
However, former festival leaders and cultural figures have urged the board to reverse its decision. They signed an open letter calling the exclusion an attack on free speech and artistic freedom. They argued that writers’ festivals should host a range of voices and ideas, even those that are challenging or controversial.
Debate over the decision has spread beyond the arts world. Some local leaders have said councils should not be responsible for determining what counts as hate speech or cultural sensitivity. Others are pushing for stronger measures to address public safety and community tensions following the Bondi attack.
The controversy comes amid broader national conversations about free speech, inclusion and how public events respond to recent tragedies. Many writers and cultural workers see the boycott as a defence of open dialogue in the arts. Critics of the festival’s choice argue that excluding voices because of their background or views undermines core democratic values.
As the Adelaide Festival draws closer, it is unclear how many authors remain in the programme or whether the event can continue as planned. The protests have brought global attention to the question of how cultural events balance community sensitivities with artistic freedom.
The dispute has also highlighted tensions in Australia’s politics and society about how to address issues of discrimination, cultural diversity, and free speech while responding to national trauma. Organisers and critics alike say the debate over this decision will continue long after the festival ends.
