Adelaide festival board loses three members after author disinvited

Three Adelaide Festival board members have resigned after the board removed Randa Abdel‑Fattah from the 2026 Writers' Week program; Abdel‑Fattah's lawyers have written to the board asking for the specific statements relied on and have given it until 14 January to respond.

The Adelaide Festival is facing a governance crisis after three board members resigned following the removal of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel‑Fattah from the 2026 Writers' Week program. More than 70 participants subsequently withdrew from festival events. The board's public statement cited heightened community tensions after the Bondi attack and referenced Abdel‑Fattah's past statements when announcing the cancellation. Abdel‑Fattah's lawyers have sent a legal letter seeking the specific statements relied on and have given the board a deadline to respond. Known details: - Three board members — Daniela Ritorto, Donny Walford and Nick Linke — resigned after the board removed Randa Abdel‑Fattah from the Writers' Week program. - More than 70 participants withdrew from next month's festival events following the author's removal. - The board's statement said it would not proceed with her appearance, citing heightened community tensions after the Bondi attack and her past statements, and the board has not issued further public comment. - The law firm Marque, acting for Abdel‑Fattah, wrote to board chair Tracey Whiting requesting the specific past statements relied upon and asked for a response by 14 January; it also requested retention of related documents for possible litigation. - With Nick Linke's departure the board may not meet the minimum gender composition required under the Adelaide Festival Corporation Act 1998, raising questions about its ability to reach quorum. Summary: The resignations and participant withdrawals have left the festival board diminished and its decision‑making capacity uncertain. Abdel‑Fattah's legal team has given the board until 14 January to identify the statements it relied upon and to retain related documents, and the correspondence notes the matter may be relevant to possible litigation. Undetermined at this time.