The festival brings together a programme of UK and international events taking place across 17 days, encompassing large-scale spectacle, theatre, circus and dance.

Notable areas where GDIF present work annually include Thamesmead, Woolwich, Greenwich, Newham, Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and The City of London.

[2] GDIF has a tradition of presenting large-scale spectacular shows and ceremonies[3] such as Graeae's and La Fura dels Baus' Prometheus Awakes (2012; Spain/UK), Compagnie Off's Les Girafes (2011; France), Free Art's Voala (2010; Spain), Close Act's Pi-Leau (2009; Netherlands), Periplum's and The World Famous's The Bell (2008; UK), Strange Fruit's Absolute Pearl (2007; Australia), Borealis (2021, UK), Spark (2022, The Netherlands) and Resurgam (2023, USA).

Events address local and global issues through art, such as Woman Life Freedom (2023), a physical theatre piece addressing human rights violations in Iran, and The Architect (2023) an immersive theatre piece taking place on a moving double-decker bus in Greenwich and Deptford, which celebrated the legacy of local teenager Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993.

Since 2011 the festival also hosts London's annual showcase of outdoor theatre with over 150 national and international delegates attending and up to 40 companies presenting.