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
37
Guerrilla Sunshine-Spreading
The 'I Love You' Project
36
No Pants Subway Ride
900 Underground Underwear Enthusiasts in NYC
35
Guerrilla Adbusting
Street Artists FTW-Crew Add Photoshop Toolbox to Subway Ads
34
Improv Everywhere
111 Topless Male Shoppers at Abercrombie and Fitch
33
1,800 Nude People as Art
Spencer Tunick Euro 2008 Installation
32
Eating Disorder Guerrilla Campaigns
Bulimia Vomit Stickers for ProMadchen
31
Insane Party Locations
Subway Shindigs Take Public Parties Underground
30
Mini Car Subway Exit
29
Giant Guerrilla Toilet Paper Rolls
Dulcolax Laxative Ad
28
Giant Human Nest
Benjamin Verdonck's Skyscraper Nest
27
Time Standing Still
Frozen Grand Central by Improv Everywhere
26
700 Simultaneous Camera Flashes
Improv Everywhere Celebrates Brooklyn Bridge
25
Guerrilla Light Installations
The Luz Interruptus (Red) Project Domesticates Madrid
24
Gratevertising
Party Store Uses Subway Grates for Promotion
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
Luxury Bag Pop Ups
Hermès Debuted a Designer Bag Installation Pop Up in Manhattan
Multifunctional Transport Buses
The Bubblic Public Imagines the Future of Public Transit
Cleverly-Disguised Fountain Cups
Pepsi's Latest Campaign Stunt Introduced 'Undercover Cups'
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Marathon-Inspired NYC Pop-Ups
Bandit x ASICS Partner for a New Capsule and Immersive Experience
Stress-Reducing Garbage Initiatives
The Hefty Brand Launches its 'Trash Time Out' Campaign
Branded Interactive Parks
Birkenstock's Birkenfields Invited New Yorkers to Slow Down
Spontaneous Summer Picnics
Absolut Vodka & Sprite's HANGOUT-OF-HOME Inspires Unplanned Gatherings
Cinematic Colosseum Experiences
PEPSI x Regal Celebrate Gladiator II with the 'Pepsi COLAsseum'
Immersive Luxe Fashion Installations
The Burberry Streets Campaign Expands to South Korea
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Anti-Theft Phone Cases
JOAN London Created an "Unsnatchable" Phone Case to Deter Thieves
Fashion-Inspired Luggage Campaigns
Samsonite's Jet Gala Event Fuses Fashion and Travel Essentials
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Statement Street Art
Alex Chinneck’s Surreal Street Art Transforms Bristol's Urban Landscape
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Beautified Community Spaces
Sephora Canada's Beauty at The Bentway Revitalizes Outdoor Space
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
QSR Menu Billboard Campaigns
Burger King Shows Real Burger Sizes with Real Size Campaigns
High Wire City Stunts
High Wire Walker Philippe Petit Will Put on Another Daring Performance
Box-Office-Themed Travel Pop-Ups
Intrepid x TIFF Host an Experiential Travel Activation
Exaggerated Holiday Displays
Nordstrom NYC's 'Wonder All the Way' Campaign is Larger-Than-Life
Movement-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
The Bottega Veneta's Going Places Features Going Places
Book-Inspired Public Benches
Madrid City Council Launched the Sit Down to Read 2024 Campaign
Retail Overconsumption Campaigns
Coachtopia's 'The Wasted Parts' Explores Overconsumption Culture
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Branded Departure Boards
"Bumble Airlines" Promotes a Premium Dating App Feature
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
Maximalism Playful Roller Discos
Varun Kataria Unveils the Xanada Roller Disco in Brooklyn
Novel Fitness Raves
Les Mills and adidas Offered a Ground-Breaking Fitness Rave Event
Graphic Garment-Dyed Streetwear
Stüssy and Levi's Join on a New Collection Together
Graffiti Artist-Made Rare Sneakers
Nike and Stash Breathe Life Back to Retro Sneaker Models
Hydrating Outdoor Billboards
Gatorade's BPM Pay Panels Replenish Urban Athletees on the Go
QSR Sandwich Shop Streetwear
Subway Introduces a Limited-Edition Line of Streetwear
Nudist-Themed Sporty Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Collection
Vibrant Pop-Up Galleries
Elizabeth Sutton Launches a Pop-Up Gallery and Studio in New York City
Street Art Metaverses
LG OLED & Shepard Fairey Teamed up for a Frieze Los Angeles Exhibition
Globalized Spooky Destinations
Intrepid Travel Presents a Curated Selection of Spooky Adventures
Battle-Style Art Events
Secret Walls Relaunches its 'The Art of Competition' Tour
Luxury Department Store Takeovers
Burberry and Harrods Offer an Immersive Shopping Experience
Urban Sneaker-Inspired Exhibits
Museum of Graffiti Introduces the Sneaker Stories Pop-Up Exhibit
Creativity-Centered Workshops
Gap's Workshop Initiative Empowers Local Makers in San Francisco
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
Holiday Activewear Pop-Ups
Gymshark Pop-Up Brings Fitness Energy to SoHo
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Graffiti-Painted Beer Packaging
1664 x André Saraiva Debut a New Vibrant Collaboration
Cooling Bus Shelter Designs
EMT Madrid Spearheads the Quest for Comfortable Public Transportation
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
Pollution-Removing Murals
This Campaign Sucks by Dentsu Brings Awareness to London's Air Quality
Retail Rage Rooms
Miista's Rage Room Invites NYC Customers to Destroy and Express Emotions
Epic Rapper-Backed Soda Campaigns
PEPSI Launched its 'Make Your Gameday Epic' Campaign
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Hyper-Targeted Shoppable Posters
Glossier and Shop Launched Posters with Geo-Gated Location Tech
Heritage-Honoring Artful Posters
Herman Miller Adds to the Archival Poster Collection
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Soccer-Themed Fragrance Pop-Ups
Hugo Boss Presents an Immersive Activation in Brazil and Argentina
Iconic Vacation Itineraries
Intrepid Travel Launches Epic Vacays Inspired by Blockbuster Films
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Museum-Approved Artist Collaborations
The Museum of Graffiti is Unveiling Three Exclusive Collabs
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Underarm Celebration Initiatives
Dove's #FreeThePits Challenges Stereotypes and Boosts Confidence
Meticulous Paper-Stacked Chairs
Brian Thoreen Creates the Paragraphic in Four Stacks Chairs
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Nature-Emphasizing Outdoor Campaigns
Craghoppers Introduces Its Spring/SSummer 2024 Collection
Streetside Challenge Billboards
Gymbox Start Line Encourages Passersby to Try a Short Dash
Tree-Integrated Mysterious Art
Banksy Unveils a Mysterious Tree Mural in London's Finsbury Park
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Sporty Laundromat Takeovers
Heineken's LaundroMatch Turns 24-Hour Laundromats into Sports Bars
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Intimate Customized Denim Events
Mars the Label Brings its Friends with Mars Event to London
Musical Monsoon Billboards
Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea Made a Record-Breaking Interactive Billboard
Bright Celebratory Olympic Posters
Ugo Gattani Illustrates Paris 2024 Posters Honoring Landmarks
Recycled Utensil Street Gyms
Gymshark x Steel Warriors Made Outdoor Gyms with Melted-Down Knives
Accessible Subway QR Codes
Colorful QR Codes in New York's Subways Will Help People Navigate
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Waste Tarp-Made Public Seating
The Membran Collective Joins the Urban Networks Project
Online Lifestyle-Inspired Street Festivals
The Xiaohongshu Street Life Festival is Exciting
Digital City-Inspired Art Works
New Digital Art is on Display in Grand Central Station
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
LATAM Airport Retailer Sweepstakes
Avolta Hosted a Series of Raffles and Prize Contests Last Year
Seasonal Interactive Fashion Installations
Yoshihisa Tanaka Highlights Washi Paper for SS24
Filmmaker-Inspired Pop-Ups
Montblanc Debuts Los Angeles Pop-Up Inspired by Wes Anderson Aesthetics
QSR Blimp Restaurant Experiences
The Subway in the Sky Promotion Will Arrive in Four Locations
Performance-Driven Designer Experiences
Hermès Hosts the Cinematic 'On The Wings Of Hermes' Event
Rock Climbing Festivals
The North Face will Host its Climb Festival at NYC’s Brooklyn Bridge Park
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Offline Newspaper Publications
County Highway Revives Print Culture
Spray Can Fragrances
Step Aboard's Chicago Perfumes Pay Homage to Works of Art
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Creatively Sponsored Art Events
Sharpie is Sponsoring the Upcoming Art Battle Event in Los Angeles
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Toronto HIIT Workout Studios
Barry's Bootcamp is the Perfect Spot for a High-Intensity Workout
Whimsical Bright Creative Workspaces
Publicis Groupe's New Workspace is in New York's SoHo
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Interactive Playful Public Installations
OMA Joins Forces with UniFor on the PRINCIPLES Square
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Unique Destination Initiatives
Intrepid Travel Unveiled its 'Not Hot List' for 2025
Natural Tresspassing Campaigns
Lush and Right to Roam Believe Nature Is For Everyone
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Italian Rooftop Restaurants
Public Gardens in Toronto Offers a NYC-Inspired Oasis
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Artwork-Adorned Reusable Bags
This Giant Food Reusable Bag Campaign Supports Nonprofits
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Rock-Climbing Work Spaces
Paris has a Hidden Climbing Gym and Cowork Space Inside a Chapel
Music-Themed Travel Guides
Skyscanner Music Guides Were Created with Exceptional ALIEN
Recycled Phonecase Art Installations
Casetify Creates Public Displays for Journey to Re/Birth
Creative Sun Safety Installations
Giant Beach Installation is a Reminder to Practice Sun Safety
Vibrant Public Art Installations
Rico Gatson's Installation Brings Life to Penn Station
Deserted Island Billboards
Silk & Spice Set Up a Billboard for Fans to Go and Find
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Garage-Converted Box Theaters
Dash Marshall Completes the Transformed Detroit Public Theater
Event Shuttle Rideshare Services
Uber Shuttle is Targeted Towards Sporting Events and Concerts
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Affordable Public Transport Initiatives
Germany Offers Unlimited Public Transit for €49 Monthly
Self-Defence Tubular Inflatable Chairs
Pneuhaus' Street Seats are Outdoor Chairs for Protests
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Dynamic Public Artwork Installations
NEON Creates the Born to Be Wild Installation in the UK
Hotel-Led Vintage Markets
The MOB Hôtel Hosted a Vintage Market, an Eco Conference and Workshops
New York-Centric Campaigns
Bergdorf Goodman’s ‘Toast of the Town’ Campaign Celebrates New York
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
City-Wide Food Drive Events
VGTNYC Supports City Harvest Through a Food Drive Event
Archaeological Protection Initiatives
The Remains of the Curtain Playhouse are Uncovered in London
Knitted New York Subways
The Straphangers Lounge Recreates the New York Subway with Crochet
Unique Urban Event Hires
London is Renting Tube Stations, Cable Cars, and Piers for Private Hire