Top 100 Publicity Stunt Trends in 2019

From Gender Reveal Lasagnas to Swapped Logo Aesthetics

A number of intriguing 2019 publicity stunt trends took place over the course of the year, ranging from wearable anti-spoiler buttons to branded scented wrapping paper -- all of which help brands stand out and increase brand awareness.

One industry that effectively leveraged publicity stunts to not only engage with customers but also take a playful dig at its competitors is Burger Kings. Over the course of 2019, the fast-food chain released a number of publicity stunts including its April Fools prank campaign that crowdsourced the expertise of college students to trick their friends. The brand also recently took advantage of David Datuna ate Maurizio Cattelan's $120,000 conceptual art installation, a real banana duct-taped to a wall. In place of the banana was a french fry to underscore the affordability of Burger King's products.

For more marketing innovations in the year ahead, check out Trend Hunter’s 2020 Trend Report.

SCORE
6.7 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America
GENERATION
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen Z (primary audience)
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 96%
Activity 96%
Freshness 9%
Failed Festival Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Failed Festival Pop-Ups
Rumored Customer-Inspired Sneakers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rumored Customer-Inspired Sneakers
Iconic Vintage Jewelry Giveaways
CATEGORY
Marketing
Iconic Vintage Jewelry Giveaways
Boundary-Pushing Running Challenges
CATEGORY
Fashion
Boundary-Pushing Running Challenges
Promotional Grain-Based Art
CATEGORY
Marketing
Promotional Grain-Based Art
Funhouse Chapel Rides
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Funhouse Chapel Rides
QSR Pizza Crust Snacks
CATEGORY
Marketing
QSR Pizza Crust Snacks
Branded Culinary Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Culinary Experiences
Gender Gap-Addressing Show Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Gender Gap-Addressing Show Campaigns
Mango Shop Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mango Shop Pop-Ups
Hot Air Balloon Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Hot Air Balloon Activations
Pop-Up Privacy Cafes
CATEGORY
Marketing
Pop-Up Privacy Cafes
Stealthy Snacking Jackets
CATEGORY
Marketing
Stealthy Snacking Jackets
Crowdsourced Prank Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Crowdsourced Prank Campaigns
Bring-Your-Own-Table Dining Events
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Bring-Your-Own-Table Dining Events
Branded Scented Wrapping Paper
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Scented Wrapping Paper
Comedy-Themed Meal Boxes
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Comedy-Themed Meal Boxes
Silent Fast Food Drive-Thrus
CATEGORY
Marketing
Silent Fast Food Drive-Thrus
Sky-High Dining Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sky-High Dining Experiences
Immersive Color-It-Yourself Installations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Immersive Color-It-Yourself Installations
Eyebrow-Accenting Sunglasses
CATEGORY
Unique
Eyebrow-Accenting Sunglasses
Airport Runway Test Drives
CATEGORY
Autos
Airport Runway Test Drives
Luxury Car Pop-up Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Luxury Car Pop-up Events
24-Hour Beauty Shops
CATEGORY
Marketing
24-Hour Beauty Shops
In-Car Burger Deliveries
CATEGORY
Autos
In-Car Burger Deliveries
Tomato Sauce-Flavored Ice Creams
CATEGORY
Marketing
Tomato Sauce-Flavored Ice Creams
Backfired April Fool's Pranks
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Backfired April Fool's Pranks
All-in-One Mobile Cocktail Kits
CATEGORY
Marketing
All-in-One Mobile Cocktail Kits
Brand-Centric Soccer Installations
CATEGORY
Fashion
Brand-Centric Soccer Installations
Candy Hotel Room Activations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Candy Hotel Room Activations
Snack-Filled Secret Bunkers
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Snack-Filled Secret Bunkers
Valentine's Produce Packaging
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Valentine's Produce Packaging
Child-Specific Flight Care Packs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Child-Specific Flight Care Packs
QSR Cross-Stitch Patterns
CATEGORY
Marketing
QSR Cross-Stitch Patterns
Athlete-Focused Pizzeria Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Athlete-Focused Pizzeria Pop-Ups
Responsible Alcohol Consumption Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Responsible Alcohol Consumption Campaigns
Temporary Humorous Rebrands
CATEGORY
Marketing
Temporary Humorous Rebrands
Home Furnishing Full-Service Restaurants
CATEGORY
Marketing
Home Furnishing Full-Service Restaurants
Wearable Anti-Spoiler Buttons
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Wearable Anti-Spoiler Buttons
Pizza-Embedded Skateboards
CATEGORY
Marketing
Pizza-Embedded Skateboards
Superhero Suit Snack Bags
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Superhero Suit Snack Bags
Gummy Bear Face Masks
CATEGORY
Unique
Gummy Bear Face Masks
Plant Care Hotels
CATEGORY
Marketing
Plant Care Hotels
Branded Glamping Experience Events
CATEGORY
Autos
Branded Glamping Experience Events
Gender Reveal Lasagnas
CATEGORY
Marketing
Gender Reveal Lasagnas
Stress-Relieving Public Punching Bags
CATEGORY
Marketing
Stress-Relieving Public Punching Bags
Furniture Brand Tarot Decks
CATEGORY
Marketing
Furniture Brand Tarot Decks
Pint-Sized Pancake Houses
CATEGORY
Business
Pint-Sized Pancake Houses
Dog-Friendly Secret Menus
CATEGORY
Marketing
Dog-Friendly Secret Menus
Wacky Crowdfunding Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Wacky Crowdfunding Campaigns
Soothing Candy Bouquets
CATEGORY
Marketing
Soothing Candy Bouquets
Color-Centric Cafes
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Color-Centric Cafes
Branded Tap Water Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Tap Water Campaigns
Customizable Embroidery Collections
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Customizable Embroidery Collections
Social Media-Savvy Financial Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Social Media-Savvy Financial Pop-Ups
Wearable Picnic Blankets
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Wearable Picnic Blankets
Disorienting Awareness Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Disorienting Awareness Campaigns
Dip-Holding Pool Float Giveaways
CATEGORY
Marketing
Dip-Holding Pool Float Giveaways
QSR Mascot Rugs
CATEGORY
Marketing
QSR Mascot Rugs
Slowly Rusting Metal Billboards
CATEGORY
Marketing
Slowly Rusting Metal Billboards
Avocado-Shaped Accomodations
CATEGORY
Marketing
Avocado-Shaped Accomodations
Luxury-Focused Gigantic Backpacks
CATEGORY
Luxury
Luxury-Focused Gigantic Backpacks
Anti-Clown Burger Ads
CATEGORY
Marketing
Anti-Clown Burger Ads
Fried Chicken Ice Creams
CATEGORY
Marketing
Fried Chicken Ice Creams
Branded Digitally Connected Parties
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Digitally Connected Parties
Esports-Centric Pop-Up Fan Events
CATEGORY
Marketing
Esports-Centric Pop-Up Fan Events
Dessert-Paired Makeup Deliveries
CATEGORY
Marketing
Dessert-Paired Makeup Deliveries
Millennial-Centric Plant Hotel Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Millennial-Centric Plant Hotel Pop-Ups
Beachfront Sandcastle Hotel Rooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Beachfront Sandcastle Hotel Rooms
Branded Zero Likes Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Branded Zero Likes Campaigns
Playful Brand Rivalries
CATEGORY
Marketing
Playful Brand Rivalries
Oversized Shopping Bag Ads
CATEGORY
Marketing
Oversized Shopping Bag Ads
Pop-Up Bike Racks
CATEGORY
Autos
Pop-Up Bike Racks
Single-Person Restaurants
CATEGORY
Marketing
Single-Person Restaurants
Video Game-Inspired Vodkas
CATEGORY
Marketing
Video Game-Inspired Vodkas
Affordable Ice Tea-Inspired Sneakers
CATEGORY
Marketing
Affordable Ice Tea-Inspired Sneakers
Spoof Fast Food Ads
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Spoof Fast Food Ads
Wearable Snack Harnesses
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Wearable Snack Harnesses
Custom-Made Envelope Stunts
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Custom-Made Envelope Stunts
Oversized Dog-Carrying Bags
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Oversized Dog-Carrying Bags
Creative Subway Station Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Creative Subway Station Campaigns
Cheese-Dispensing Interactive Billboards
CATEGORY
Marketing
Cheese-Dispensing Interactive Billboards
Bold Celebrity-Branded Condoms
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Bold Celebrity-Branded Condoms
Coffee Brand Storytelling Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Coffee Brand Storytelling Campaigns
Fantastical Food Promotions
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Fantastical Food Promotions
Holographic AI Stylists
CATEGORY
Marketing
Holographic AI Stylists
Fast Food-Inspired Beehives
CATEGORY
Eco
Fast Food-Inspired Beehives
Daring Brand Call-Out Ads
CATEGORY
Marketing
Daring Brand Call-Out Ads
Mysterious Logo-Dependent Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mysterious Logo-Dependent Campaigns
Millennial-Targeted CGI Mascots
CATEGORY
Marketing
Millennial-Targeted CGI Mascots
Soundproof Isolation Pods
CATEGORY
Marketing
Soundproof Isolation Pods
Social Media Brand Engagements
CATEGORY
Marketing
Social Media Brand Engagements
Fast Food-Themed Clothing Capsules
CATEGORY
Marketing
Fast Food-Themed Clothing Capsules
Surprise-Inside Shopping Collectibles
CATEGORY
Unique
Surprise-Inside Shopping Collectibles
Pizza-Themed Bridal Packages
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Pizza-Themed Bridal Packages
Ironically Direct Campaigns
CATEGORY
Marketing
Ironically Direct Campaigns
Swapped Logo Aesthetics
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Swapped Logo Aesthetics
Cheeky Marketing Strategies
CATEGORY
Marketing
Cheeky Marketing Strategies

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