Adelaide writers’ week derailed: festival’s future hangs in the balance
The literary landscape of South Australia has been thrown into chaos. Adelaide Writers’ Week, a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar and a significant economic driver, was effectively sacrificed to save the larger Adelaide Festival – a gamble that’s now threatening to unravel the entire operation.
A controversial cancellation sparks a chain reaction
Following the abrupt removal of Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from the AWW program, a wave of withdrawals cascaded through the event. Internal briefings, leaked to Guardian Australia, revealed that headline acts were threatening to pull out, jeopardizing the 2026 festival’s viability. The situation escalated so rapidly that the board itself resigned, leaving a newly appointed director facing a near-impossible task.
The documents paint a stark picture: a ‘cascade of withdrawals’ that could have collapsed the entire festival. Management braced for a second, global wave of cancellations fueled by allegations of censorship and governmental interference – a chilling prospect for an event that routinely attracts audiences of over 160,000.
Government pressure and a desperate plea
Crucially, Freedom of Information requests revealed that a letter from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, dated January 2nd, acted as the primary catalyst for this crisis. The briefing highlighted that his request to remove Abdel-Fattah – just three days after the board had initially stood by her inclusion – triggered a chain of events culminating in the AWW’s cancellation.
Despite generating over $62.6 million in gross expenditure for the South Australian economy in 2025 – a figure bolstered by $4 million in ticket sales and $3 million in sponsorship – the AWW operates as a ‘loss leader’ for the Adelaide Festival Corporation, generating minimal box office revenue. The festival’s success is inextricably linked to its ability to draw crowds to the city, but its sudden demise casts a long shadow over the future of the broader Adelaide Festival.
A future in question
The briefing warned that future Adelaide Festivals themselves could be at risk. Artists, previously eager to participate, are now hesitant, fearing alignment with the festival’s values. This apprehension, the documents suggest, could significantly impact future invitations and jeopardise the festival’s long-term financial stability. The situation underscores a troubling trend: the potential for political interference to undermine even the most established cultural institutions.
Louise Adler, AWW director, walked out of the extraordinary board meeting, urging a full public apology and the cancellation of the 2026 event. The decision, ultimately ratified – and swiftly executed – leaves Adelaide facing a significant economic and cultural loss.