For 2016, the venture includes Emerging Fringe, Visual Fringe, Street Theatre, Bi-National Fringe, and a new expanded Family Fringe.

San Diego International Fringe Festival is a non-profit project of Contact Arts, in association with the Actors Alliance of San Diego, designed to help provide a platform for artists while also helping the community as a whole -- boosting arts and culture within the gorgeous City of San Diego. During the festival, artists from across the United States and around the world participate alongside home-grown talent in art forms spanning theatre, buskers/street performers, cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, poetry, spoken word, puppetry, music, visual art, design, and open to any other type of artsy-ness not listed.

The key to the operation of San Diego International Fringe Festival is its' role to support, encourage, and facilitate producers, artists, presenters, venues, and businesses. The festival works to ensure that artists and all participants involved have the best possible experience. For independent artists, San Diego International Fringe Festival is an inspirational environment to showcase their work.