Pulp confirm Adelaide Festival show will still go ahead following appointment of new board

Posted On January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Pulp have confirmed their appearance at Adelaide Festival will still go ahead on February 27th.

Over 180 people withdrew from the event after Palestinian-Australian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah’s invite to participate in Writers Week at the Adelaide Festival was withdrawn.

Abdel-Fattah, who is a vocal critic of Israel, was taken off the event due to “cultural sensitivities” following the recent antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi Beach, according to organisers.

The author labelled the festival’s comments as “despicable”, as well as saying the removal was a “blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship”.

Notable names that have boycotted the event include former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and best-selling British author Zadie Smith.

Now, in a new statement, the Sheffield band have said, “Pulp were appalled to hear of the circumstances in which the Adelaide Festival board had cancelled the scheduled appearance of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, and respect those who immediately spoke out against this decision.”

They continued, “We want to make it absolutely clear that Pulp refuse to condone the silencing of voices. We celebrate difference, and oppose censorship, violence and oppression in all its forms.”

Pulp confirmed they were prepared to pull out from the festival, revealing, “Our management and representatives have been in dialogue with the festival organisers since last week, when the situation was first made public. Having informed them that we had decided to withdraw from the festival in support of the boycott, we were asked to delay an announcement while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides.”

The backlash to the treatment of Abdel-Fattah has led to board members standing down from the Adelaide Festival, which is why Pulp are now prepared to perform.

They shared, “It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting in good faith. The festival board that made this dreadful decision have been replaced, and a full apology has been accepted by Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has been invited to appear next year.”

Pulp’s statement concluded, “Given this new and welcome development we feel able, in good conscience, to honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February. We hope that our free concert will be an opportunity for different communities to come together in peace and harmony.”

In a statement on January 15th, the new board at the Adelaide Festival apologised and retracted their prior removal of Abdel-Fattah due to “cultural sensitivities”, adding, “We apologise to Dr Abdel-Fattah unreservedly for the harm the Adelaide Festival Corporation has caused her.”

Pulp’s Australia and New Zealand tour is set to begin at the Spark Arena in Auckland on February 21st. They will also perform in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

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