Metropolitan areas are the ideal place for guerrilla stunts; Trend Hunter has actually covered a few incredible public spectacles created in the name of promotion and awareness.
The following cluster highlights some of the best examples we've seen of brands and advertisers who were unafraid to use public space as their marketing medium. From giant toilet paper rolls to subway parties (and no pants subway rides), here are some of the wildest, most innovative guerrilla stunts in metropolitan areas.
37 Guerrilla Stunts in Metropolitan Areas
36
Guerrilla Sunshine-Spreading
The 'I Love You' Project
35
No Pants Subway Ride
900 Underground Underwear Enthusiasts in NYC
34
Guerrilla Adbusting
Street Artists FTW-Crew Add Photoshop Toolbox to Subway Ads
33
Improv Everywhere
111 Topless Male Shoppers at Abercrombie and Fitch
32
1,800 Nude People as Art
Spencer Tunick Euro 2008 Installation
31
Eating Disorder Guerrilla Campaigns
Bulimia Vomit Stickers for ProMadchen
30
Insane Party Locations
Subway Shindigs Take Public Parties Underground
29
Mini Car Subway Exit
28
Giant Guerrilla Toilet Paper Rolls
Dulcolax Laxative Ad
27
Giant Human Nest
Benjamin Verdonck's Skyscraper Nest
26
Time Standing Still
Frozen Grand Central by Improv Everywhere
25
700 Simultaneous Camera Flashes
Improv Everywhere Celebrates Brooklyn Bridge
24
Guerrilla Light Installations
The Luz Interruptus (Red) Project Domesticates Madrid
23
Human Mirrors on Subways
Improv Everywhere Puts 16 Twins on Subway
22
Fast Food Financial Bailouts
Burger King's Guerrilla Wallet Campaign
21
3-D Tongues
Japanese Subway Ads
20
Peace Murals
LA vs War Installation
19
Guerrilla Marketing for Kids
ChupaChups Lollipop Road Signs
18
Guerrilla Benching
Green-Space Loving Activists Drill Down New Seats Around London
17
Fighting Public Space Pollution
The Guerrilla 'Pop Down Project' Marks Unwanted Ads
16
Musical at a Mall
Thes Latest From Improv Everywhere
15
Lesbian Lipstick Smudges
'The L Word' Guerrilla Ads
14
Hands-On Guerrilla Ads
Clever Supportive Ad Placement
13
Guerrilla Flash Mob Campaigns
Synchronized Dancing at London Liverpool Street for T-Mobile
12
Enormous Guerrilla Plant Tags
Howies Winter Clothing Campaign to Save the Planet
11
Drowning Billboards
Guerrilla Campaign For "Day After Tomorrow"
10
Subway Street Art
The Take a Seat Project
9
Giant Public Jewelry Art
Inges Idee's Shiny Installation
8
Freezing at Taco Bell
Improv Everywhere as Advertisers At Store Opening
7
Economy-Inspired Guerrilla Art
Faux Financial Memorials
6
Guerrilla Anti-Religion Campaigns
UK Atheist Busvertising
5
Guerrilla Shoe Repair Ads
Modern Shoe Hospital Bandage Campaign
4
Guerrilla Tennis Courts
Mischief Making In Supermarket Parking Garages
3
Guerrilla Magazine Placement
'I Left This Here For You to Read'
2
Redecorating Subway Cars
Pranksters Turn Train into a Living Room
1
Vending Machine Votes
Guerrilla Obama Support
Related Ideas
Graffiti-Inspired Branding Campaigns
Mosaic North America Partners with Buffalo Bills
Cheeky Adult Wipe Campaigns
goodwipes Launched a OOH Campaign at the 2025 NYC Marathon
Unapologetic Women-Centric Campaigns
O Positiv Health Hosted an Empowering Event in New York
Series-Inspired Newspaper Pop-Ups
Peacock Featured a Custom Newsstand for ‘The Paper’
texturally artistic fashion stores
The Acne Studios flagship store in Tokyo is eye-catching
Branded Express Buses
The Ordinary Bus Supports Accessible Travel in Brooklyn
Snow-Accented Beer Ads
These Stella Artois Ads Create the Illusion of a Frothy Chalice
Nationwide Soda Campaigns
America250's Coca-Cola Mini Cans Campaign Spotlight All 50 States
Wellness Brand Experiences
Pilates and Influencer Events Are Shaping Lifestyle Marketing in Peru
Theatrical Cocktail Experiences
The Theatre by ZLB23 Unfolds at a Seven-Seat Bar
Summer Fragrance-Inspired Pop-Ups
Maison Margiela Launched a Pop-Up Café in Amsterdam
Cinematic Metanarrative Bag Campaigns
Balenciaga's 'A New York Minute' Film Stars Sarah Pidgeon
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Immersive Soccer Hubs
adidas Unveiled its Toronto Brand Hub for the FIFA World Cup
Live-Printed Billboards
HP Showed Off the Power of Its Smart Tank Printers One A4 Sheet at a Time
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Faux Food Pop-Ups
MoMA Design Store Unveils an Immersive 'MoMA Mart' Pop-Up for NYC
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
City-Themed Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry’s Back to the City Campaign Celebrates London
Panda-Inspired Sport Campaigns
Panda Station Dresses Panda Statues in Tracksuits for an Activation
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
New York Streetwear Collections
Gap and Awake NY Launch a 90s-Inspired NYC Culture Capsule
Viral Temporary Renamed Stores
67-Eleven Replaced 7-Eleven Branding at a Stockholm Location
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Marathon Running Brand Pop-Ups
Bandit Running is Launching Its Boston Marathon Pop-Up
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Flagship Value Fashion
Primark expands affordable fashion with a major Manhattan flagship store
Renewed Urban Rooftops
The Heineken Seoul Rooftop Turns Unused Rooftops into Community Spaces
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
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Industrial-Inspired Brand Events
Reitmans Reimagined its Distribution Centre for a Curated Event
Typographic Play Structures
Icon Climbers Create Playgrounds Where Alphabet Meets Jungle Gym
Athletic Brand Flagship Stores
Gymshark Launches its First US Flagship Store in Downtown NYC
Soccer Streetwear Collaborations
Carré and Coca-Cola Launched a Soccer Streetwear Collection
Limited Collaborative Streetwear
HIDDEN.NY x UGG Classic Boot Becomes Prize in Citywide Contest
Festive Scratch-and-Sniff Billboards
Subway's Interactive Ad Shares the Aroma of Stuffing
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Artistically Expressive Multi-Brand Stores
Sanjay Puri Architects Has Redefined Retail Design
Paris Running Pop-Ups
New Balance Paris Marathon Weekend Activates Run House Cultural Space
Timely Delivery-Centric Billboards
Pizza Pizza Creates a Truck-Side Billboard Inspired by the LRT
Social Media Follower-Celebrating Initiatives
Streets of Toronto Marks 600k Instagram Followers
Urban Metropolis-Inspired High-End Fashion
The Gucci NY Capsule Captures the Ethos of the City
Curated Newspaper Storefronts
Shreeji Unveiled 'The Village News' as an Offline Summer Ritual
Grocer-Inspired Installations
FREITAG Launches Mini Market Pop-Up at Dover Street Market Ginza
Cinematic Denim Campaigns
Levi’s Enlists Shaboozey and Matty Matheson to Reimagine Western Staples
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
Urban Assembly Forums
The RAM Assembles Shanghai by All(zone) Explores Impromptu Urban Life
Sofa-Centered Marketing Activations
This Sofa Club Activation Encouraged Consumers to Take a Seat
Adaptive Community Hubs
Spaced Agency Designs a Space Supporting Small Businesses and Culture
Alcohol-Free Underground Campaigns
TfL and Heineken 0.0 Introduced "Bakerl0.0" for Dry January
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
Clay Bar Beer Activations
This Stella Artois Roland-Garros 2026 Activation is Immersive
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
Inaugural Vodka Billboard Campaigns
ALB Vodka Introduces Its First Billboard in New York City
Playfully Branded Crosswalks
OREO Turned Marked Areas Outside Some Kroger Stores into OREO Walks
Retro-Inspired Workplaces
The Jungle Offices Reinterpret 1990s NY Offices Across Four Floors
Compact Urban Grocery Retail
Whole Foods Expanded Daily Shop Stores into Three U.S. Cities
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Colleague-Connecting Pubs
The Office by Heineken Celebrates the Best Part of Work Culture
Localized Game-Day Food Activations
Martha Stewart Joins Pepsi’s Bay Area Local Eats
Community Sports Pitches
EA SPORTS FC and LALIGA Opened Its Grassroots Soccer Pitch in the Bronx
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Literary Tourism Innovations
Jane Austen Festival Launches Character Trail Through Bath Streets
Art Print Bandages
The Met x Band-Aid Collection Applies Museum Works to Adhesive Strips
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Apartment Design Installations
Italian Radical Design Group Stages NYCxDesign Townhouse Takeover
Underrated Travel Locations
Intrepid Travel Has Released Its Annual Not Hot List
Flagship Retail Spaces
Marc-Antoine Barrois Opens Its SoHo Flagship Store
NYC Identity-Inspired Retail Cconcepts
Concrete Amsterdam Designs the Inaugural Steve Madden Store
Luggage Personalization Stickers
Monos Launched City-Inspired Destination Stickers
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Branded Marathon Pop-Up Experiences
Bandit Boasts a Los Angeles Marathon 2026 Pop-Up Experience
Urban Runner Hubs
Seoul's Runner's Bases Add Value to Unused Subway Spaces
Marketing Firm Innovation Hubs
Stagwell is Gearing Up to Open Its New Headquarters in Singapore
Cheeky Sandwich Seat Campaigns
Subway Takes Away the Dread of the Middle Seat with Free Sandwiches
Multisensorial Metropolitan Installations
Edge NYC Shares Interactive, City-Inspired Experiences
Limited-Time Protein Promotions
Subway Launches the Meteor Deal Featuring Protein Picks
Urban Egg Installations
The Diesel Human-Sized Egg Installations Bring Playful Fashion to Milan
Subway Cabin Makeovers
British Airways NYC Subway Turns Commute into an In-Flight Experience
Neighborhood Cocktail Bars
Brutes Offers a Unique Way to Choose a Drink with a Martini Barometer
Carrier Pigeon Campaigns
The Travel Agency's Viral Project Pigeon Spiked Social Media Engagement
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
Soccer-Themed Entertainment Events
Sky Zone Turns Global Soccer Excitement into Active Play
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
Toaster Pastry Billboards
Ginsters Set Up a Pastry Toastie Billboard in a Commuter Hotspot
Marathon Performance Hubs
The PUMA NITRO Lab Transforms ICA into a Multi-Day Running Activation
Community-Centered Bakery Cafés
Paris Baguette expands through neighborhood café experiences
Glitching Movie-Inspired Banking Billboards
This BMO Billboard Brings a Film Detail to Life
Community-Centered Rooftop Events
Heineken's Rooftop Revival Turned Building Tops into Social Hubs
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Time Reclamation-Focused Cleaning Campaigns
Maid Brigade Launches a Cheeky Summer Ad Campaign
Multi-Level Cancer Awareness Campaigns
The United Breast Cancer Foundation is at Times Square
Immersive Cultural Dining Experiences
HIRAKUZA Ginza Tokyo Combines Sumo Wrestling with Dining
Local Food Discoveries
Streeats Helps You Find Hidden Street Food Gems Recommended By Locals
Girded Billboard Posters
Irn-Bru And Lucky Generals Introduced Girders Posters
Embedded Safety Networks
‘Ask for Angela’ Builds Retail-Based Support Systems Across Toronto
Urban Activewear Activations
The Merrell Get Outside Activation Took Over Union Square
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Workday Break-Focused Campaigns
KitKat Debuts the 24/7 Teams Meeting Campaign Concept
Scottish Tourism Campaigns
VisitScotland Used NYC Tartan Week to Drive Scotland Tourism In The USA
Storytelling Workspaces
M Moser’s London Office Uses Behavioral Design and Brand-Focused Interiors
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Sun-Drenched Furniture Installations
Corona Cero's Sun Tags Help Urban Workers Reenergize Outdoors
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Regional Travel Campaigns
Wego and Visit Qatar Partner for a Localized Campaign
Industrial Retail Interior
Gramicci East London Store by Steep Learning Group Sees Large Shorts
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Granola-Focused Restaurant Expansions
The Granola Bar Restaurant Group Expands in the US
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Virtual City Explorers
Citywalki Offers Immersive Virtual Experiences In Over 140 Cities
Civic Landmark-Inspired Metro Stations
UNS and Collaborators Will Design Turin’s Metro Line 2
Consumer Culture Exhibitions
The Momentary Will Present Two Complementary Exhibitions
Halloween Season Candy Campaigns
World Business Chicago is Promoting Chicago-Based Candy
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Graffiti-Driven Franchise Interiors
Pablito’s Tacos Unveiled a New Mindful Design Concept
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Public Art Displays
Paul Anthony Smith’s Photographs Appear at 300 City Bus Stops This Summer
Balanced Retail Atmosphere
The Capitamall Skyview Reimagines the Mall as an Immersive Urban Street
Urban Material Design Collections
Clarke & Clarke Metropolitan Collection Explores Bold Textiles
Museum Street Art Exhibits
London Museum Preserves Banksy’s Piranha Tank as Permanent Display
Creative Networking Tools
Designer Hikes Builds Community By Connecting Designers Outdoors
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Community Fashion Events
Free People Hosts a Charitable Summer Gathering with Film and Activities
Recycled-Steel Bus Stations
The Amazon Bus Station in Belém Cuts Carbon Emissions by 70%
Vibrant City Installations
Craig & Karl Take Over Brisbane Festival with City Pop Art Spectacles
Global Creative Billboard Competition
Gymnation Launches ‘Your Ad. Our Billboard’ Competition
Global Art Exhibitions
Keith Haring: a World in Motion Traces the Artist’s International Work
Urban Text Installations
SPREAD installs Peace Love Joy Letterforms Across Central Beirut Streets
Creative Protest Archives
Pocket Protests Showcases Global Creative Resistance Against Fascism
Multi-Level Cancer Awareness Ads
The United Breast Cancer Foundation is at Times Square