Author Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at Sydney Writers Festival

Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah will appear at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, Australia’s largest writers’ event.

Her removal from Adelaide Writers’ Week sparked a major controversy, prompting organisers to defend their commitment to free expression and leading to the withdrawal of numerous authors and the eventual cancellation of the festival.

Sydney Writers’ Festival confirmed today that Dr Abdel-Fattah, a Sydney-based academic and novelist, will speak in its 2026 program to discuss her latest book, ‘Discipline’, and take part in two sessions among the festival’s roughly 200 events. A spokesperson for the festival indicated she had been invited in October based on her literary work and her relevance to contemporary debates.

In a joint statement, chief executive Brooke Webb and artistic director Ann Mossop described Abdel-Fattah as “a significant Sydney writer with a new book that speaks to the here and now,” adding that the festival aims to reflect the diversity of its city and its readership.

“A festival like ours, which holds freedom of expression as a core value, is not in the business of cancelling or censoring writers,” they said. “A writers’ festival provides a rare and welcome opportunity for readers and writers to come together for nuanced conversations about complex and sometimes difficult topics. Readers can make up their own minds about what they would like to attend.”

They added that while some public figures and community members may disagree with aspects of the program, “they are entitled to do so,” underscoring the festival’s independence in determining its line-up.

Several Jewish authors spoken to by J-Wire expressed confidence that Mossop and the festival board were committed to ensuring a balance of perspectives on Israel and Palestine, including the inclusion of Zionist speakers representing a range of views.

The controversy centred on Abdel-Fattah’s social media posts as well as public comments about Zionism and cultural safety, which many argued were exclusionary.

Abdel-Fattah also flagged potential legal action against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas after he compared her rhetoric to that of a terrorist sympathiser, a claim that further intensified debate over free speech, political criticism, and artistic platforms.

Her inclusion in Sydney’s festival also comes despite reservations expressed by NSW Premier Chris Minns in relation to her participation in another literary event in Newcastle, reflecting broader political and public scrutiny surrounding her appearances.

Announcing her Sydney appearance on social media, Abdel-Fattah framed it as a moment of vindication. “In the midst of suffocating repression and racism, celebrate the wins,” she wrote. “May we all remain undisciplined.”

Sydney Writers’ Festival will release its full 2026 program on March 10. The festival is scheduled to take place in May and is expected to draw thousands of attendees to events across Sydney.

with Alex Mitchell/AAP