In January 2026, Adelaide Writers’ Week imploded after its board disinvited Palestinian‑Australian author Randa Abdel‑Fattah in the wake of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting. Abdel‑Fattah called the move “a despicable attempt to associate me with the Bondi massacre,” arguing that her mere presence as a Palestinian was treated as dangerous or “unsafe,” sparking a mass author boycott and institutional crisis.
In February 2025, Lebanese-Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi was abruptly removed from representing Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, igniting a firestorm of controversy within the international arts community. The decision, made by Creative Australia, followed backlash over Sabsabi’s 2007 video installation You
From June 2-13, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur Alexandra Xanthaki will visit Micronesia to evaluate cultural rights, inclusivity, and challenges. Her findings, including recommendations, will be presented to the UN in March 2026.
Censorship of Palestinian symbols in Australian arts fuels major controversy and artistic freedom concerns.
