In the aftermath of the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week, Australia’s festival directors find themselves navigating a complex cultural landscape. For three years, planners have been balancing volatile geopolitics with local debates over identity and expression. The situation intensified following the Bondi massacre and the subsequent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shifting the conversation from theoretical debate to urgent crisis management.
Previously coveted roles in arts management have transformed into challenging diplomatic postings. The introduction of new hate speech laws adds another layer of complexity, leaving festival organizers to tread carefully. “I’ve never seen Australian arts so fractured and on tenterhooks,” a leading festival curator remarked, reflecting on the writers’ boycott after Palestinian-Australian writer Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited due to governmental pressure.
Adelaide’s Fallout and Its Impact
The cancellation of the event made international headlines, casting a long shadow over the 2026 festival circuit. The drama escalated when Writers’ Week director Louise Adler and most board members resigned amid accusations against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas of undue influence. Abdel-Fattah threatened legal action against Malinauskas, accusing him of defamation.
Rosemary Sorensen, founder of the Bendigo Writers Festival, which was also canceled in 2026, emphasized the importance of these events. “It’s impossible to say Israel and Palestine is not our issue,” she stated. “Writers’ festivals are where you hear people speak who know what they’re talking about, unmediated and sometimes unabridged.”
Lessons for Future Festivals
Adelaide’s turbulence may serve as a cautionary tale for upcoming festivals in Newcastle, Sydney, and Melbourne. However, the sensitivity surrounding these events is so extreme that representatives from Melbourne and Sydney Writers’ Festivals declined interviews. The incident highlights the reputational risks of canceling guests and the potential hazards of political interference.
“Of course I stand for free expression,” says high-profile publisher Morry Schwartz, “but nothing is absolute, and expression becomes problematic when it causes real fear or harm.”
For others, the danger lies in pre-emptive self-censorship driven by political pressure and reputational risk. Abdel-Fattah has faced criticism for past social media posts and her response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. She has since apologized, stating her comments were taken out of context.
The Broader Cultural Implications
Louise Adler, reflecting on the situation, highlighted the long-term damage to Australia’s festival reputation. “Persuading a writer to make the long trek to Australia is an act of courtship,” she noted. The cancellation not only breaches faith with attendees but also jeopardizes relationships with partners and suppliers.
Under new hate speech laws, festival planners must navigate the distinction between personal and intellectual safety. To mitigate risk, some festivals may rely on balanced panels and vetted audience questions, though curators worry this could strip away the essential friction of a vital festival.
“It’s surreal that a writers’ festival – a space for people to come together and listen to respectful conversation – is seen as radical now,” says Rosemarie Milsom, founding director of the Newcastle Writers Festival. “But that reflects the divisiveness of the world.”
Future Directions and Challenges
As the 2026 season begins, literary festival directors face the challenge of creating “braver spaces” rather than just “safer” ones. Sydney Writers’ Festival 2025 achieved record-breaking attendance under the theme “In this Together,” emphasizing the need for uncomfortable conversations as a test of a healthy democracy.
Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan praised writers for holding the line on free speech. “It was writers at their own cost who reminded politicians just what was at stake and why it mattered,” he said.
Looking forward, festival directors must balance the need for diverse perspectives with the pressures of political and social sensitivities. As Adler and others suggest, the focus should remain on credible writers with expertise, ensuring adherence to Australian laws and ethical standards.
Ultimately, the collapse of Adelaide Writers’ Week serves as a pivotal moment for Australia’s literary festivals, highlighting the need for resilience and adaptability in the face of cultural and political challenges.
