Publicity stunts have been a core marketing maneuver for some time now, yet they speak to modern societies particularly well. In an age that revolves around sharing experiences on social media, it is only natural that companies would go the route of publicity stunts in order to generate a substantial amount of word-of-mouth promotion.
There have been a series of impressive publicity stunts over the last couple of years as well. Some focus on truly shocking people through gory situations while others are downright terrifying such as Leo Burnett's simulated car crash in a public bathroom. Other publicity stunts are much more innocent and even festive as was the case with Air Canada's 'Gift of Home' campaign that gave expats in London a round trip ticket to Canada this year.
47 Examples of Shocking Publicity Stunts
52
Pod-Protesting Publicity Stunts
Greenpeace Giant iPod is Landed at Apple HQ with Activists Inside
51
Supersized Submarine Stunts
The Milan Submarine was Installed by Ad Agency M & C Saatchi
50
LEGO Subway Stations
This LEGO Subway Station in Milan was Replicated for Promotion
49
Animal Underground Commuters
Sky Atlantic Put a Polar Bear on the Subway to Promote a New TV Show
48
Heated Bus Shelters
'The Beach Look Good On You' Campaign Encourages New Yorkers to Vacation
47
Macho Ice Cream Vans
The Skoda Monster Ice Cream Truck is a Deliciously Wacky PR Stunt
46
Exhibitionist Publicity Stunts
The Palmolive Shower in Moscow Features Bathing Beauties
45
Comfort-Focused Cinemas
IKEA's Movie in Bed Event Replaced the Traditional Seats with Big Beds
44
Extra-Terrestrial Dining
Sushi in Space Promotes Out-of-This World Taste
43
Monstrous iPhone Ads
The World's Biggest iPhone Formed from 56 iPads
42
Photocopied Publicity Stunts
Scholtz & Friends' Copy Shop Ad Campaign Recreates Berlin Landmarks
41
Pet Food Publicity Stunts
Paws Natural Pet Emporium's Owner is Only Eating Dog and Cat Food
40
Edible Snowy Publicity Stunts
Miss Cakehead's 'Ice Cream Snow' is a Huge Hit in London
39
Adrenaline-Filled Fashion Stunts
The Mast Walk by Alex Thomson Merges Luxury with Adventure
38
Airline Holiday Surprises
Air Canada Gives the 'Gift of Home' to Canadians Living Abroad
37
Halloween Mask Publicity Stunts
The HealthExpress Stoptober Campaign Depicts Scary Smoker Faces
36
Sky-High Press Releases
Houston PR Makes Mundane Announcement with an Extraordinary Campaign
35
Misleading Delivery Publicity Stunts
The DHL Trojan Mailing Campaign Cleverly Dupes Competitors
34
Cargo-Sized Cardboard Crates
The Amazon Nissan Box is the Biggest Paper Carton You've Ever Seen
33
Illuminated Social Media Signs
The 'I like Naples' Installation Illuminates the City
32
Tiny Soda Stands
This Coca-Cola Publicity Stunt Promotes Mini Coke Cans With Itty Bitty Booths
31
Downtown Paint Publicity Stunts
The Paint Party 2013 for Corona Beer Was a Vibrant and Messy Event
30
CEO Advice Publicity Stunts
The 1-844-GIRLBOSS Campaign Builds Confidence and Promotes New Book
29
Car Roof Catwalks
Vauxhall Fashion Scout Show Opens With a Carwalk
28
Highrise Infidelity Stunt Ads
The Discovery Channel’s Campaign Has a Man Escaping an Angry H
27
Apocalypse-Ready Advertising
The 'In Case of White Walkers' Cases are Located in Sweden
26
Flash Mob Sleepovers
The Creative 'IKEA Slumber Party' Publicity Stunt
25
Boxed Furniture Campaigns
The Urban Farm 'No Assembly Required' Stunt Takes a Jab at IKEA
24
Donation-Encouraging Statues
A Series of Ice Men in Brazil Raise Awareness of Organ Donation
23
Bee Bearding Publicity Stunts
This Man Takes Bee Bearding to a Whole New Level to Sell His Honey
22
Simulated Crash Bathroom Pranks
The Think! Pub Loo Shocker Campaign Dissuades Drinking and Driving
21
Racy Red Light PSAs
The Stop the Traffik Publicity Stunt Illuminates Human Trading Rings
20
Festive Airline Publicity Stunts
The WestJet Christmas Miracle Answered Passengers' Wishes
19
Ice Wall Publicity Stunts
Speed Stick Gear Literally Brings Men's Hygiene to New Heights
18
Scavenger Hunt Publicity Stunts
Patrons Search for Hidden Money in MK Art Gallery
17
Tricky Toilet Stunts
The IKEA Porta-Potty Promotes Bathroom Product Line with Humor
16
Airline Flash Mobs
The Virgin Atlantic No Ordinary Park Bench Stunt is Entertaining
15
Gigantic Jockey Publicity Stunts
Paddy Power Coordinates Mass Stunt for the Cheltenham Festival
14
Meta Publicity Stunts
Warner Home Entertainment Allows Viewers to Watch Gravity in a Floating Tank
13
Zombie-Shooting Publicity Stunts
Wacky Promo From Loducca, Brazil for the Walking Dead TV Series
12
Iconic Interactive Peeking Posters
This Interactive Marilyn Poster Attracts Viewers in Curiosity
11
Parachuting Publicity Stunts
'Cow' Sends Noodles and Cash Towards the Heavens
10
Maternal Marketing Campaigns
The Bartendr Gestations Publicity Stunt Turns Heads Through Racy Ads
9
Lava-Based BBQs
Bompas & Parr Creative Studio Cook Steaks with Molten Lava
8
Life-Sized Cereal Toys
Dare Promotes the New Honda Civic With a Massive Munchy Monument
7
Curling Commentary Film Promos
The Ron Burgundy Curling Commentary is Comedy Gold
6
Joke Jogging Publicity Stunts
Fevicol’s Simple Marketing Campaign Stages Runners Stuck in Pl
5
Social Media Scavenger Hunts
Twitter Guides Participants in the ‘Key to Strong’ Challe
4
Temporary Smog Relief Purifiers
The Chinese Smog Epidemic is Being Fought with Bags of Clean Air
3
Hilarious Toilet Discussions
Cherry Healey Promotes Cottonelle Flushable Wipes by Talking Bums
2
Teen Drama Hackvertising
MTV France Hacked Twitter to Celebrate Season Three of Teen Wolf
1
Porcelain Publicity Stunts
The Uncle Grey Royal Copenhagen Campaign Paints the Town Red
Related Ideas
Cheeky Adult Wipe Campaigns
goodwipes Launched a OOH Campaign at the 2025 NYC Marathon
Heritage-Driven Boot Campaigns
The Red Wing Made the Hard Way Goes Against Sneaker Drops
Exclusive Whisky Experiences
Glenfiddich Launches the 'Spot the Stag' Marketing Initiative
Sponteneous Beach Club-Inspired Campaigns
Casablanca Debuts the Beach Club 2026 Campaign
Dating Profile Billboards
Simply Spiked BOLD Moves Tackles Dating App Fatigue
National Holiday Marketing Campaigns
Revlon Debuted a Month-Long National Lipstick Day Celebration
Series-Inspired Newspaper Pop-Ups
Peacock Featured a Custom Newsstand for ‘The Paper’
Provocative Soda Stunts
Evolution Fresh x Bretman Rock Hosted a Soda-Powered Car Wash
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
Pristine Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's All Flavour, No Mess Spotlights a Tidy Snack
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Mockumentary Product Tests
Robert Irwin vs. 100 Crocs Puts Columbia Sportswear Shoes to the Test
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Bold Soda Brand Campaigns
This RC Cola Campaign is the Brand's First in 40 Years
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Live-Printed Billboards
HP Showed Off the Power of Its Smart Tank Printers One A4 Sheet at a Time
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
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
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Surreal Car Care Campaigns
Turtle Wax's You Are How You Car Reimagines Drivers as Their "Car-Self"
Humorous Outdoor Apparel Campaigns
Columbia Sportswear Launches Engineered for Whatever
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
Cheeky Sports-Inspired Diaper Campaigns
Huggies Aligns Family Planning with a Major Sports Event
Modern Hustle-Inspired Food Campaigns
StarKist Co. Positions Itself as Fuel for the Modern Hustle
Beer Brand Nature Campaigns
Corona Launched Its Living Is Calling With a Tripadvisor Partnership
Cheeky Food-Focused Soda Campaigns
The 'Share a Pepsi' Campaign Encourages Pairing with Food
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
AI Sun Care Billboards
The Burnable Billboard Shows Damage Caused to Human Skin in Real-Time
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Absurd Gummy Ads
Skittles Gummies' "Uncomfortably Soft" Ads Were Shot Without AI and CGI
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
Reimagined Art Tours
Kayem's There When it Mattered Most Adds Hot Dogs to American History
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
Unfiltered Sleep Campaigns
The IKEA Sleep Talk Reviews Campaign Uses Real Nighttime Mutterings
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
Cinematic Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Has Debuted Its First National Advertising Campaign
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
AI-Assisted PR Experiments
Hyundai Card Tests AI With Its The Orange Press Release
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
Paparazzi-Style Cereal Shots
Photos of William Shatner Eating Raisin Bran Tease a Big Game Ad
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Symbolic Pop-Up Wellness Experiences
Hone Health Hosts Death of Midlife Pop-Up
Sofa-Centered Marketing Activations
This Sofa Club Activation Encouraged Consumers to Take a Seat
Nature-Connected Lifestyle Campaigns
Wild Planet Has Launched Its 'Go Wild' Campaign
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
Unfiltered Skincare Campaigns
The Indu Spots Happen Campaign Celebrates Unretouched Teen Skin
Humorous Chocolate Spots
Toblerone Introduced its ‘Chocolate Like Nobody’s Watching’
Chicken Wing Teasing Campaigns
This Pizza Hut Wings Campaign Pokes Fun at Competitors
Production-Led Live Commerce Events
P.Louise Launches Get Unteddy With Me on TikTok Shop
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
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Humorous Hotel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Launch a Social Ad
No-Nonsense Frozen Snack Campaigns
Yasso's Foolproof Freezer Challenges April Fool's Day Pranks
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Costumed Fan Stunts
AXE's Mystery Wiener Couple Captivated Fans at the World Cup
Celebratory Midlife Campaigns
The Stripes Beauty Hotter Than Ever Destigmatizes Menopause
Brand Refresh Campaigns
The 'Walmart. Who Knew?' Campaign Challenges Retail Perceptions
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Interactive Luxury Brand Storytelling
Hermès Presents the Interactive Mystery at the Grooms
Subway Station Fashion Takeovers
Reitmans Hosts its Spring 2026 Lower Bay Station Preview
Family-Centric Footwear Campaigns
TOMS Ran a Public Casting Call for the Joyful Chaos Family
Spontaneity-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Wyndham Debuts 'Where There's a Wyndham, There's a Way'
Nordic QSR Campaigns
McDonald's Launches a New Campaign Inspired by its Dedicated Fans
QSR-Branded Food Truck Tours
Shake Shack Canada is Embarking on Its First-Ever Food Truck Tour
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Cut-Out Easter Treat Disguises
Cadbury Created Print Ads That Hide Easter Eggs as Everyday Items
Empowering Soccer-Themed Cultural Campaigns
LOTTO Launches the Legends Begin with LOTTO Campaign
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Expansive Pride Activations
Smirnoff is Amplifying Its Support for the 2SLGBTQI+ Community
Curated Newspaper Storefronts
Shreeji Unveiled 'The Village News' as an Offline Summer Ritual
AI-Enhanced Y2K Ads
Starwash by Carl's Jr. Recalls a 2000s Ad with Paris Hilton
Performance Tire Brand Campaigns
Goodyear Launched Its Fast Is In Us Global Eagle Tire Campaign
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Bartering-Focused Frozen Pizza Promotions
RED BARON® Launches the Stuff for Stuffed Campaign
Interactive Traveling Marketing Initiatives
Heinz Pllayfully Spotlights the Heinz Ketchup Zero
Edible Ranch Billboards
Hellmann's WTF is Ranch? Invited Brits to Try a Beloved American Condiment
Humorous High-Intensity Campaigns
Nike Launched its Star-Studded 'Rip the Script' Video Campaign
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
90s-Era Snack Product Campaigns
The Pringles One You Pop Campaign Revives the Tagline for Gen Z
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Outdoor Cooking-Focused Campaigns
Solo Stove Debuts the 'Squash the Beef at the Big Game' Campaign
Shoppable Microdramas
Crocs and SuperOrdinary Turn TikTok Storytelling Into Shopping Experiences
Toaster Pastry Billboards
Ginsters Set Up a Pastry Toastie Billboard in a Commuter Hotspot
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
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
Horror-Inspired Sports Campaigns
Nike Presents the Scary Good Campaign with Satire Themes
Co-Branded Family-Oriented Events
Disney and Formula 1 Launch Fuel the Magic Campaign
Silent Nature Campaigns
Jeep Promotes Its Cherokee Hybrid with Quiet Wildlife Photography
Celebrity-Supported Luxe Fashion Campaigns
BOSS Taps Renowned Public Figures for Fall 2025
Shrimp Chips-Focused Campaigns
Calbee America Launches 'What the Wild Ones Eat' Campaign
Anti-Bias Fashion Unveilings
Primark Created "Kim Parr" to Challenge Preconceptions
Performance Marketing Platforms
PebblePost Expanded into Connected Television Advertising
Rideshare St. Patrick's Day Campaign
Uber and Mother Launched an Irish Exit Safe Ride Campaign
Donation-Based Menu Deals
Domino’s Turns Pizza Purchases into Donations for Kids with Illnesses
Taxi Driver-Centric Branded Events
Carlsberg Ran the 'Fare Game' Initiative for Taxi Drivers
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Robust Childhood Cancer Campaigns
Childhood Cancer Canada Launches 'Let's Face the Unimaginable'
Comedic Social-First Campaigns
Bonobos Debuts a Cheeky Ad Called the Sweat Stakes
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Conscientious Tourism Campaigns
Evaneos Advocates Against Overtourism in a New Campaign
Girded Billboard Posters
Irn-Bru And Lucky Generals Introduced Girders Posters
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Swapped Phone Campaigns
KitKat Phone Break Depicts Devices Traded for Chocolate Wafer Bars
Question-Driven Brand Revisions
NPR Turns its Logo Into Question Words
Boldly Inclusive Hair Campaigns
Splat Hair Color Announces That Every Shade Tells a Story
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Extreme Product Tests
Columbia Sportswear's Balloon Product Test Doused Volunteers in Water
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Story-Focused Hotel Branding Initiatives
Staypineapple Debuts 'Where Stays Become Stories'
Customizable Marketing Postcards
Smartpress' Sticker & Magnet Postcards Fight Digital Fatigue
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Heartfelt Beverage Campaigns
The 'A Real BOOST®' Campaign Centers on Authentic Human Experiences
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Nostalgic Celebrity-Supported Beverage Campaigns
Clearly Canadian Recently Revived Its Brand
Superstitious Soccer Campaigns
Sedano's Supermarkets Launched Where Superstitions Are Born
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Purpose-Driven Brand Contests
Publicity for Good is Supporting Goodness with Its Contest
Media Exposure Platforms
PrBoost Delivers Scalable Brand Publicity Across Trusted News Sites