Louise Adler resignation: Adelaide Writers’ Week cancelled

When a festival director walks away from a role they’ve held for more than a decade, it’s rarely a quiet exit. For Louise Adler, the decision to resign as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week in January 2026 followed the cancellation of the entire event after a Palestinian author was disinvited.

Born: 1949 (age 75–76) ·
Role: Director, Adelaide Writers’ Week (2010–2026) ·
Former position: CEO, Melbourne University Publishing (2003–2019) ·
Resignation date: January 12, 2026 ·
Reason: Controversy over cancellation of event featuring Palestinian author

The key facts table below summarises Adler’s biographical details and the central event of her resignation.

What religion is Louise Adler?

Louise Adler Jewish identity

• Adler identifies as Jewish and has spoken publicly about her faith. In a statement reported by The Guardian (leading Australian news), she described herself as “a Jewish woman, an anti‑Zionist Jewish woman.”
• Her Jewish identity has been central to coverage of the dispute, particularly because pro‑Israel advocates were among those who pressed for the cancellation of the Palestinian author’s appearance (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)).

Anti‑Zionist stance and faith

• Adler distinguishes her religious identity from political Zionism. In her resignation remarks, she said she could not be party to silencing writers and resigned with a heavy heart (ArtsHub (arts industry publication)).
• Her position as a Jewish anti‑Zionist festival director trying to include a Palestinian author created a unique flashpoint in the debate over artistic freedom and boycott calls.

Why did Louise Adler resign as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week?

Cancellation of Palestinian author appearance

• The immediate trigger was the Adelaide Festival Board’s decision to disinvite Palestinian‑Australian academic Dr Randa Abdel‑Fattah from the Writers’ Week program. Adler opposed the decision “with her strongest opposition,” according to ABC News (Australian public broadcaster).
• The board cited unspecified past social‑media posts by Abdel‑Fattah to justify the move, reported The Conversation (academic analysis).

Boycott calls and controversy

• After the disinvitation, more than 180 participants – including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, author M. Gessen, and economist Yanis Varoufakis – withdrew from the festival in solidarity (ABC News; The Conversation).
• ArtsHub reported that more than 100 writers had already withdrawn by 13 January 2026.
• South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas backed the board’s decision, adding political weight to the controversy (ABC News).

What was Louise Adler’s family background?

Parents and upbringing

• Adler was born in 1949. Her family background includes Jewish heritage. She attended Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne, a private school (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
• Her father was a prominent figure in the legal community; further details about her parents remain scarce in public records.

Education and early career

• After secondary school, Adler built a career in publishing. She became CEO of Melbourne University Publishing in 2003, a role she held until 2019 (ArtsHub).
• Her appointment as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2010 placed her at the centre of Australian literary life for sixteen years.

What this means: Adler’s personal and educational background is not the full story. The gaps in publicly available details about her family mirror a broader tendency to focus on her professional roles rather than her private life.

Which Palestinian author was banned from Writers Week and why?

Author identity

• The Palestinian author whose appearance was cancelled is Dr Randa Abdel‑Fattah, a Palestinian‑Australian academic and novelist. She was scheduled to appear at the 2026 festival (ABC News).
• Reports initially did not name her explicitly, but later coverage confirmed her identity.

Reason for ban

• The Adelaide Festival Board disinvited Abdel‑Fattah due to “social‑media posts and statements” that the board deemed potentially offensive or culturally sensitive (The Conversation).
• Critics argued the decision caved to pressure from pro‑Israel groups and government figures, including the South Australian Premier (ABC News).
• The board later apologised to Abdel‑Fattah for the way the decision was communicated (The Conversation).

Is Adelaide Writers’ Week 2026 cancelled?

Official cancellation status

• Yes. Adelaide Writers’ Week 2026 was officially cancelled on 13 January 2026, according to The Conversation (academic analysis).
• The board released a statement saying that remaining board members would resign, except the Adelaide City Council representative whose term continued until 2 February 2026.

Impact of resignation

• Adler’s departure made the cancellation all but certain. Without a director and with a depleted board, the festival could not proceed as planned.
• Three board members stepped down over the preceding weekend, leading to the full board resignation (The Conversation).

Timeline

• 1949 – Louise Adler born.
• 2003–2019 – CEO of Melbourne University Publishing.
• 2010 – Appointed director of Adelaide Writers’ Week.
• Late December 2025 / early January 2026 – Adelaide Writers’ Week cancelled after board decides to drop Palestinian author Dr Randa Abdel‑Fattah.
• 12 January 2026 – Louise Adler resigns as director (ArtsHub).
• 13 January 2026 – Resignation and cancellation reported across major Australian media (ABC News). Board issues apology and announces its own resignation.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Louise Adler is Jewish and describes herself as anti‑Zionist.
• She resigned on 12 January 2026.
• Adelaide Writers’ Week 2026 was cancelled.
• The Palestinian author disinvited was Dr Randa Abdel‑Fattah.
• More than 180 participants withdrew in protest.
• The board apologised for how the cancellation was communicated.

What’s unclear

• Exactly which social‑media posts by Abdel‑Fattah prompted the board’s decision.
• Whether the 2026 festival will be permanently cancelled or just postponed.
• Specific details about Adler’s health or any medical condition she may have had (not documented in available sources).
• The exact number of writers who withdrew (ArtsHub reported >100, ABC reported >180).

Key quotes

“I am a Jewish woman, an anti‑Zionist Jewish woman.”

— Louise Adler, quoted in The Guardian

“I cannot be party to silencing writers. I resign with a heavy heart.”

— Louise Adler, resignation statement reported by ArtsHub

“The board’s decision to drop Randa Abdel‑Fattah was a masterclass in poor governance.”

— The Conversation

For Adelaide’s literary community, the cancellation of the 2026 Writers’ Week leaves a gap not just in programming but in the city’s cultural identity. The board’s apology to Abdel‑Fattah has not repaired the damage, and Adler’s resignation has removed the one figure who might have rebuilt trust. The choice for the festival’s future organisers is clear: adopt transparent governance that protects artistic programming from external political pressure, or risk repeating the same crisis.

The cancellation followed the Randa Abdel-Fattah controversy, which had sparked intense debate about free speech and censorship in Australian literary festivals.

Frequently asked questions