The Thematic and Focus Programs are the primary activities of the Fields Institute. These are extended periods of deep research concentration on leading topics in the mathematical sciences. They range from one-to-six months in length, involve long-term and short-term visitors, postdoctoral fellows and students, and include workshops and seminars, distinguished lectures and graduate courses.

The Institute encourages programs with a broad span of activity, from fundamental mathematics to deep connections with computation and applications, and from leading-edge research and the training of students to industrial collaboration.

Thematic and Focus programs are global in scope in the nature of the program themes, as well as the international diversity of program participants, distinguished lecturers and program organizers.