Top 100 Publicity Stunts in 2016

From Ghost-Themed Menus to Elaborate Anime Parades

As these 2016 publicity stunts show, enticing consumers with out-of-the-ordinary campaigns can effectively increase awareness for the product, service or message that's being promoted.

For example, the 'Macho Craft Beer Bar' in Japan appealed to women with a love for burly men, marketing craft beer to them by loading the event with chiseled servers that they could interact with. A gas station in Russia hosted a similar event, giving away fuel for three hours to anyone who showed up in a bikini and heels. Although this request was widely condemned for its sexist nature, the many men who passionately took part in the dress code helped to make the campaign more comical.

To unite the nations involved in UEFA Euro 2016, Parisian advertising agency TBWA presented ads with body-painted subjects who had one another's flag transferred to the other in suggestive areas. Not only did this sensual ad manage to immediately capture the attention of passersby, but it carried a powerful message that promoted peace. For insight beyond these 2016 publicity stunts, see our FREE 2017 Trend Report.

SCORE
4.4 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 64%
Activity 60%
Freshness 8%
Child-Sized Supercars
CATEGORY
Life-Stages
Child-Sized Supercars
Wax Fashion Week Replicas
CATEGORY
Marketing
Wax Fashion Week Replicas
Video Game Anniversary Stunts
CATEGORY
Marketing
Video Game Anniversary Stunts
Sporty Stadium Bedrooms
CATEGORY
World
Sporty Stadium Bedrooms
Unmissable Bus Advertisements
CATEGORY
Autos
Unmissable Bus Advertisements
Beer-Finding Apps
CATEGORY
Tech
Beer-Finding Apps
Playful Ball Invitations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Playful Ball Invitations
Fan Photography Projects
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fan Photography Projects
Mangled Emoji Sculptures
CATEGORY
Autos
Mangled Emoji Sculptures
DIY Dining Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
DIY Dining Pop-Ups
Board Game Installations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Board Game Installations
Commuter-Cooling Fan Installations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Commuter-Cooling Fan Installations
Personal Social Media Helpers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Personal Social Media Helpers
Minimalistic Pop-Up Supermarkets
CATEGORY
Marketing
Minimalistic Pop-Up Supermarkets
Fast Food Vacation Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Fast Food Vacation Experiences
Footwear Bar Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Fashion
Footwear Bar Pop-Ups
Single-Drop Dishwashing Bottles
CATEGORY
Marketing
Single-Drop Dishwashing Bottles
Communal Housing Centers
CATEGORY
Marketing
Communal Housing Centers
Grotesque Anti-Smoking Ads
CATEGORY
Marketing
Grotesque Anti-Smoking Ads
Icy Vending Machines
CATEGORY
Marketing
Icy Vending Machines
Ice Cream Parlor Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Ice Cream Parlor Pop-Ups
Ghost-Themed Burger Menus
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Ghost-Themed Burger Menus
Mobile Tourism Truck Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mobile Tourism Truck Pop-Ups
Fantasy Series Snow Murals
CATEGORY
Marketing
Fantasy Series Snow Murals
Engineered Beer Glasses
CATEGORY
Marketing
Engineered Beer Glasses
Bikini-Clad Promotional Stunts
CATEGORY
Marketing
Bikini-Clad Promotional Stunts
Branded Chocolate Museums
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Chocolate Museums
Co-Branded Hypercars
CATEGORY
Autos
Co-Branded Hypercars
Experiential Fitness Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Experiential Fitness Events
Sneaker Milestone Conventions
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sneaker Milestone Conventions
Bedding Fort Restaurants
CATEGORY
Marketing
Bedding Fort Restaurants
Student Loan Finance Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Student Loan Finance Activations
Heroic Custom Motorcycles
CATEGORY
Autos
Heroic Custom Motorcycles
Immersive Movie Marketing Kiosks
CATEGORY
Marketing
Immersive Movie Marketing Kiosks
Broccoli Sampling Booths
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Broccoli Sampling Booths
Restaurant Selfie Rooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Restaurant Selfie Rooms
Selfie Coffee Cups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Selfie Coffee Cups
Beer Brand Massages
CATEGORY
Marketing
Beer Brand Massages
Livestreaming Furniture Builders
CATEGORY
Marketing
Livestreaming Furniture Builders
Black Ice Cream Parlors
CATEGORY
Marketing
Black Ice Cream Parlors
Edible Pizza Boxes
CATEGORY
Marketing
Edible Pizza Boxes
Ugly Fruit Smoothies
CATEGORY
Eco
Ugly Fruit Smoothies
Restorative Hangover Bars
CATEGORY
Marketing
Restorative Hangover Bars
Shark-Infested Underwater Bedrooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Shark-Infested Underwater Bedrooms
Kaleidoscopic Cookie Trucks
CATEGORY
Autos
Kaleidoscopic Cookie Trucks
Pop-Up Styling Stations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Pop-Up Styling Stations
Jetpack Golf Carts
CATEGORY
Marketing
Jetpack Golf Carts
Design Agency Visual Identities
CATEGORY
Marketing
Design Agency Visual Identities
Gamified Stadium Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Gamified Stadium Experiences
Inflatable Park Pavilions
CATEGORY
Marketing
Inflatable Park Pavilions
Public Napping Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Public Napping Pop-Ups
Snapchat Recruitment Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Snapchat Recruitment Campaigns
Narrative Experiential Tv Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Narrative Experiential Tv Campaigns
Promotional Escape Rooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Promotional Escape Rooms
Multi-Sensory Candy Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Multi-Sensory Candy Events
Submerged Easter Egg Stunts
CATEGORY
Marketing
Submerged Easter Egg Stunts
Free Pop-Up Shops
CATEGORY
Marketing
Free Pop-Up Shops
Tiny Tech-Free Pubs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Tiny Tech-Free Pubs
Commuter-Delight Brand Events
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Commuter-Delight Brand Events
Political Food Trucks
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Political Food Trucks
Easter Bunny Brand Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Easter Bunny Brand Activations
Floating Beer Gardens
CATEGORY
Marketing
Floating Beer Gardens
Urban Garden Billboards
CATEGORY
Eco
Urban Garden Billboards
Soda Brand Mobile Kitchens
CATEGORY
Marketing
Soda Brand Mobile Kitchens
Inflatable Irish Pubs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Inflatable Irish Pubs
Cherry Blossom Bars
CATEGORY
Marketing
Cherry Blossom Bars
90s Game Show Recreations
CATEGORY
Marketing
90s Game Show Recreations
Collegiate Ball Pits
CATEGORY
Marketing
Collegiate Ball Pits
Adventurous Biking Getaways
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Adventurous Biking Getaways
Retail Kitchen Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Retail Kitchen Experiences
Macho Beer Bars
CATEGORY
Marketing
Macho Beer Bars
Outdoor Urban Gym Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Outdoor Urban Gym Pop-Ups
Athletic Collection Workout Launches
CATEGORY
Marketing
Athletic Collection Workout Launches
Easter Candy Pop-Up Cafes
CATEGORY
Marketing
Easter Candy Pop-Up Cafes
Urban Safari Treehouse Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Urban Safari Treehouse Pop-Ups
Faux Fast Food Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Faux Fast Food Pop-Ups
Marketing Street Performances
CATEGORY
Marketing
Marketing Street Performances
Sensual Soccer Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sensual Soccer Campaigns
Gold-Painted Pubs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Gold-Painted Pubs
Board Game Pop-Up Hotels
CATEGORY
Marketing
Board Game Pop-Up Hotels
Multi-Sensory App Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Multi-Sensory App Activations
Streetcar Shoe Experiences
CATEGORY
Fashion
Streetcar Shoe Experiences
Pop-Up Studio Spaces
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Pop-Up Studio Spaces
Experiential Beach Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Experiential Beach Events
Chocolate-Built Pop-Up Bars
CATEGORY
Marketing
Chocolate-Built Pop-Up Bars
Vacation-Inspired VR Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Vacation-Inspired VR Events
Sport Vehicle Mud Masks
CATEGORY
Autos
Sport Vehicle Mud Masks
Branded Traveling Market Tours
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Traveling Market Tours
Sensorial Snack Brand Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sensorial Snack Brand Events
Slow-Mo Brewery Photobooths
CATEGORY
Marketing
Slow-Mo Brewery Photobooths
Sensorial Bubble Wrap Parties
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sensorial Bubble Wrap Parties
Naked Restaurant Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Naked Restaurant Events
Mobile eCommerce Fitting Rooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mobile eCommerce Fitting Rooms
Sleep-Based Brand Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sleep-Based Brand Activations
Sophisticated Clubhouse Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sophisticated Clubhouse Pop-Ups
High-Tech Multi-Sensory Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
High-Tech Multi-Sensory Pop-Ups
Mysterious Urban Cookie Vaults
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mysterious Urban Cookie Vaults
Wearable Brand Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Wearable Brand Activations
Campaigning Doll Kits
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Campaigning Doll Kits

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