With the massive crowds that gather together during the summer to listen to music, there are a lot of brands that want to take advantage of marketing music festivals—however, it just doesn't cut it anymore to have a company name splashed everywhere.
These marketing tactics employ everything from print to interactive objects and social media to creating exciting and engaging experiences. This year, to get into the Tomorrowland music festival, people are required to wear a bracelet that doubles as their ticket in, which also gives them the ability to instantly become Facebook friends with others at the event. And leading up to this year's event, Stockholm's Malmo Festival had a giant, climbable installation made to advertise the festival ahead of, and at the event.
21 Tactics for Marketing Music Festivals
23
Sandy Composer Portraits
A Beachy Schubert Announces the 2014 East Neuk Classical Music Festival
22
Plug and Play Print Ads
The Skol Sensation Audio Print Ads Revolutionizes Print Advertising
21
Tantrum-Reversing Campaigns
The 'Children's Voice' Campaign Transforms Tantrums into Performances
20
3D Festival Posters
This Giant Climbable Poster for Stockholm's Malmo Festival is Made of Plywood
19
Personalized QR Code Stickers
The Heineken 'U-Code' Sends Customized Messages
18
Glowing Paper-Made Spectacles
The Nordik Impakt Festival is Being Promoted With Neon Paper Shades
17
Friend-Making Festival Bracelets
The Tomorrowland Music Festival Bands Create New Facebook Friends
16
Zany Festival Trailers
The Dominator Festival Trailer 2011 Carnival Art is Thrillingly Dark
15
Hipster Reform Campaigns
Primavera Sound's 2013 'Indie Coaching' Ad Has Hipsters Being Trained
14
DJing Monkey Marketing
The Volt 2012 Festival Promo Mixes Primates and Synthesizers
13
Music-Materializing Apps
The Vibetunes App Lets Deaf People Enjoy Music
12
Social Media-Powered Raffles
The 'Twombolr' Twitter Raffle Lets Contestants Enter with a Tweet
11
Moving Bus Music Festivals
Original Buff is Bringing Tunes on the Road
10
Incentivized Phone Trades
Sony Enticed Attendees of 'Way Out West' with a Free Phone Swap
9
Music Event Apps
The Osheaga Festival Teases Its Lineup in a Mobile Game
8
GPS Music Festival Apps
Fezzee is a One-Time Stop for the Active Music Festival-Goer
7
Interactive Mobile Music
Zoo Records 'Hidden Live 2011' is the First Live Mobile Music Festival
6
Music-Themed Social Shopping
Diesel 'Calvi on the Rocks' Facebook Campaign is Interactive
5
Interactive Branded Photo Booths
V Energy 'Power Wall' Offers Engaging Experience to Music Fans
4
Photo-Capturing Beach Balls
HP's Beach Ball Advertising Also Captures Unique Aerial Shots
3
Judgemental Public Pianos
This Al Bustan Festival Marketing Stunt Draws Crowds with a Chatty Piano
2
Science Fiction Concert Branding
Non-Format Creates the Identity for the Only Connect Festival
1
Groovy Music Festival Apps
The Lollapalooza Mobile App Keeps You Connected to All the Festivities
Related Ideas
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Iconic Stylish Bag Campaigns
Fendi's Summer 2025 Campaign is Cohesive and Contemporary
Experiential Multisensory Pop-Ups
Pleasing's Immersive PleasingLand Includes a “Scent Arcade”
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
Wellness Brand Experiences
Pilates and Influencer Events Are Shaping Lifestyle Marketing in Peru
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
Summer Fragrance-Inspired Pop-Ups
Maison Margiela Launched a Pop-Up Café in Amsterdam
Festival Vodka Brand Activations
Absolut Launched Its Heat Haus & New RTD Line at Coachella 2026
Cross-Network Playoff Promotions
NHL and Multiple Broadcasters Launch a Playoff Marketing Campaign
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Entertainment-Driven Distilleries
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw create immersive brewery venues
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Data-Driven Sports Culture Ads
Air Transat's OOH Campaign Compares and Contrasts Ticket Prices
Mini Festival Experiences
MGA’s Miniverse Invites Festival-Goers to Explore a Tiny Coachella
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Phone-Free Crafting Experiences
Pinterest Brought a Phone-Free Experience to the Desert
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Telecom Event Ticket Campaigns
Verizon and David Beckham Teamed Up for the FIFA World Cup 2026
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Summery Lip Balm Activations
e.l.f. Cosmetics Spotlights Its Melting Lip Balm at Coachella
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Music-Inspired Audiobook Campaigns
Spotify Launches its Bold 'Read Like You Listen' for the Summer
Smart Beer Bands
Heineken's The Clinker Celebrates Music as a Shared Language
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Beer-Sponsored Beach Concerts
Corona and Todo Mundo no Rio Partnered for a Free Concert
Festival Fashion Denim Pop-Ups
A New Levi’s® Pop-Up Will Bring Festival Style to Old Montreal
Cinematic Campaign Posters
Nike 2026 World Cup posters frame national teams through film-styles
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Cultural Waterfront Festivals
The Water/Fall Festival Aims to Transform Toronto's Waterfront
Ice Cream-Sponsored Music Festivals
The Magnum Ice Cream Company Supports Coachella
Friendly Fandom Campaigns
Heineken Kicked Off Fans Have More Friends with a Fun Social Experiment
Football-Themed Hiring Campaigns
The NFL Links Draft Culture to Inclusive Hiring Practices
Cross-Industry Insight Networks
The Think Party Explores the Future of Socialization
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
Festival Brand Activations
American Eagle Opened Its Denim Desert Activation at Stagecoach 2026
Music Experience-Focused Beer Campaigns
The Heineken House is Back for 2026 Coachella
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Festival Beauty Activations
Medicube Brings Skincare Tech and Experiences to Coachella
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Gen Z-Targeted Wine Campaigns
The I heart kinda Summer Campaign is Launching Soon
Doll-Centric Festival Experiences
Barbie Dream Fest Brings the Iconic Doll to Life for Fans
Multi-Sensory Spa Experiences
111SKIN and Myndstream Created Two Bespoke Sonic Journeys for Guests
Beer Brand Campaigns
AB InBev Launched Its 'Cheers to Bars' Campaign for the FIFA World Cup 2026
Interactive Beer-Focused Festival Devices
Heineken's Debuts The Clinker at Coachella
Creative Music-Based Campaigns
Bose Launched its 'Life Deserves Music. Music Deserves Bose.' Spot
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Cultural Mullet Campaigns
Mcdonald’s McMullet Campaign Turns a Viral Joke into a Live Activation
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Gamified Sports Rewards
Mountain Dew Links MLB Home Runs to Real-Time Free Drink Rewards
Gamified Scent Marketing Experiences
Axe's Grab The Sweet Turned a Bus Stop into a Claw Machine
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Lager Popsicle Initiatives
Beer is Art Taps the Lager Popsicle Concept in Its Campaign
Multitasking Volunteer Initiatives
Heineken Fan Volunteers Applies a Rarely Used Employee Benefit
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Beer Brand Artist Refreshes
Terrapin Beer Co. Refreshes Packaging With Artist Collaborations
Game-Day Getup Sweepstakes
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Axe Wants to See Fans' Craziest Outfits
Zero-Proof Festival Experiences
The Drinks with Benefits Festival Signals the Growth of the Market
Clay Bar Beer Activations
This Stella Artois Roland-Garros 2026 Activation is Immersive
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
World Cup Hospitality Experiences
Stella Artois Turns Bars into Immersive FIFA Viewing Locations
Airline Festival Sponsorships
Alaska Airlines is the Official Airline of Coachella and Stagecoach
Personal Listening Experiences
Spotify Showcases its Consumer-First Approach at Elevate Festival
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Athlete-Led Marketing Strategies
Forta Cosmetics Uses Athlete Network to Launch Its Setting Spray
Interactive Artisan Coffee Campaigns
The Illy Summer Campaign Will Immerse Consumers
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Immersive Queue Displays
Samsung Transforms Everland Wait Lines with Interactive 3D Safari Visuals
Sports-Themed Beer Campaigns
This BrewDog Promotion Offers the Chance at a Year of Free Beer
Immersive Music Campaigns
Spotify x Gorillaz Fan Experience Promotes the Mountain Across London
French Beer Marketing Campaigns
1664 Features Robert Pattinson in Its New Acting-Inspired Campaign
Multi-Faceted Community-Focused Festivals
Halsey Fest 2025 Offered a Variety of Activities
Festival-Inspired Youthful Fashion Lines
Pacsun Debuts the Governors Ball Music Festival Capsule
Bodega-Style Festival Activations
Pacsun Presented Its Bodega-Inspired Custom Installation
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Empowering Soccer-Themed Cultural Campaigns
LOTTO Launches the Legends Begin with LOTTO Campaign
Beer-Branded Fictitious Record Labels
Coors Light Launches the Playful Coors Light Records
Canadian Fan-Based Campaigns
Molson Launches its 'Performance Enhancing Canadians' Initiative
Celebratory Football Beer Campaigns
Tennent’s Time to Dream Campaign Celebrates the World Cup
Brand-Creator Matchmaking Events
Dhar Mann Studios & Brand Innovators Hosted a Speed Dating Event
Football-Focused Venue Marketing Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Delivers on Social Atmosphere & Dining
Soccer-Themed Entertainment Events
Sky Zone Turns Global Soccer Excitement into Active Play
Music-Driven Hospitality Concepts
W Montréal and Billboard Launch Billboard Live at W Montréal
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Month-Long Color Celebration Events
Sally Beauty is Running the Exciting COLORfest
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Design Sound Festivals
CONTRIBUTIONS Festival #2 Pairs Exhibited Art with Commissioned Soundscapes
Stadium Stay Experiences
Marriott Bonvoy Introduces a World Cup Final Sleepover Suite for Fans
Soundtrack-Integrated Print Media
Radioposter Merged Audio Storytelling with Physical Books &Zines
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Co-Branded Family-Oriented Events
Disney and Formula 1 Launch Fuel the Magic Campaign
Taco-Focused Food Festivals
Taco Fest Expands is 2026 Footprint with an Event in Mississauga
Immersive Music Festival Stores
BELLA+CANVAS Debuted Museum of Merchandise at Coachella
Fantasy World Theme Parks
Disney Builds Real-Life Arendelle with World of Frozen
Mid-Strength Marketing Pushes
6Percent, Small Beer And Quarter Proof Launch Mid-Strength March
Lifestyle Gaming Ecosystems
Nintendo Extends Music Access Beyond Its Consoles
Festival Season Refreshment Campaigns
The Capri-Sun Festival Feeling Campaign is Running in the UK
Conscientious Tourism Campaigns
Evaneos Advocates Against Overtourism in a New Campaign
Craft Chocolate Festivals
Ranger Chocolate Co. Attended the Portland Craft Chocolate Festival
Girded Billboard Posters
Irn-Bru And Lucky Generals Introduced Girders Posters
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Data-Driven Concert Discovery
Apple Music Uses Listening Behavior to Surface Ticketmaster Events
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Informal Science Events
The Pint of Science Festival Lets Researchers Interact with the Public
Exclusive Pop-Up Events
Man’s Best Friend Pop-Up Offers Limited Merch & Immersive Album Experience
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Music Loyalty Platforms
FanBase.fm Is A Loyalty Platform For Music Fans And Artists
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Promotional Fitness Incentives
Planet Fitness' PerksFest Returns with Exclusive Discounts
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Festival Exploration Platforms
Today's Festival Documents Global Cultural Celebrations
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Festive Musician-Led Campaigns
Smirnoff ICE Partners with Troye Sivan for the Holidays
Live Music Pizza Partnerships
Boston Pizza and Live Nation Canada Form a Partnership
Festival-Inspired Resale Marketplaces
The Reloved Market Pop-Up Shares In-Demand Seasonal Styles
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Fan-Powered Concerts Platforms
ConcertFutures Lets Fans Stake to Bring Artists to Their Cities
Integrated Summertime Cider Campaigns
The Kopparberg Bring Me Sunshine Campaign is Arriving Soon
Founder Marketing Resources
Better Marketing Blog Shares Practical Playbooks For Founders
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Points-Powered Sports Travel
point.me Helps Fans Use Rewards for World Cup Travel and Tickets
30-Hour Music Events
The Infinite Now Builds Sleep into the Experience with Beds and Hammocks
Startup Marketing Resources
The Marketing Playbook For Startups Breaks Down 80+ Growth Tactics
Recycling-Focused Travel Campaigns
Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments Partnered for a Promotion
Immersive Nighttime Theme Parks
SeaWorld Combines Concerts, Drone Displays and Live Entertainment
Festive Product Launch Events
Love Magenta announces a 10-day Christmas launch event
Expansive Creative Regional Festivals
Tokyo Creative Salon 2026 is Schedule to Occur in March
Music Festival Refreshment Campaigns
This Lipton Summer Campaign Offers VIP Festival Experiences
Event Branding Tools
Frame Me Lets Event Managers Share Branded Photos For Viral Marketing
Stadium Fan Festivals
FIFA Turns the LA Coliseum into a Multi-Day Fan Experience Hub
In-Game Music Experiences
Toca Boca Integrates Music From Major Artists Into Gameplay
International Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Brand USA Launches Two Complementary Campaigns
Mardi Gras-Themed Breast Campaigns
Frida Marked Mardi Gras with the Breast Gallery Campaign