April Fools’ Day isn’t just a day for mischief—it’s become a stage for bold creativity and high-impact engagement. Like cherry blossoms blooming across High Park in spring, brand personalities are bursting into full colour every April 1st, using humour and surprise to forge unforgettable connections.
In 2025, the digital marketing world saw a delightful wave of quirky campaigns that entertained, surprised, and yes—left us all checking if that product actually existed. Let’s decode this year’s best brand pranks, uncover the strategic genius behind them, and reveal what your business can learn from these moments of mirth.
The Strategic Power of April Fools’ Day Marketing
April Fools’ Day isn’t just a PR playground—it’s a carefully timed opportunity to boost brand awareness, drive social media engagement, and test the waters of unconventional messaging. For digital marketers, it’s like testing fireworks before Canada Day: bold, brief, and potentially spectacular.
Brands that participate are:
- Expanding reach through viral buzz
- Testing new ideas with lower risk
- Humanizing their image with playful self-awareness
- Creating memorable moments that spark conversation
Now let’s dive into the trends that defined 2025’s April Fools’ Day.
1. Double the Fun: Bold Brand Collaborations
What happens when two brands walk into an April Fools’ brainstorm? Pure magic—and major virality.
Standout Pranks:
- Duolingo x Carnival Cruise Line: Duolingo, known for its language learning apps and courses, teamed up with Carnival Cruise Line, a major cruise operator, to announce a fictional 5-year cruise dedicated entirely to language immersion. The idea of combining travel with intensive language study resonated with many, sparking wistful comments about wanting such an experience to be real.
- IPSY x Raising Cane’s: Beauty subscription service IPSY, which sends monthly boxes of makeup and skincare, collaborated with fast-food favourite Raising Cane’s, famous for its chicken fingers and signature sauce, to unveil a “Moisturizing Sauce.” This bizarre mashup had people laughing and scratching their heads, a perfect example of how contrasting brands can create a memorable—if not slightly confusing—prank.
- Olipop x Hidden Valley: Healthy soda brand Olipop, known for its low-sugar, flavourful drinks, announced a collaboration with Hidden Valley, famous for its salad dressing, for a ranch-flavoured soda. This outrageous combination drew a strong reaction, with some finding the concept hilarious and others completely repulsed, proving that polarizing pranks can generate significant buzz.
- Coffee Mate x Cheez-It: Coffee Mate, the brand that offers a wide variety of coffee creamers, joined forces with Cheez-It, the iconic cheese cracker brand, to propose a cheese-infused coffee creamer. This prank had caffeine lovers intrigued and slightly apprehensive. The idea of savoury cheese in a morning beverage was certainly unconventional, leading to widespread curiosity and debate about whether it would actually taste good.
These brand collaborations were strategically brilliant, designed to maximize reach. By partnering with seemingly unrelated companies, each brand expanded its audience through clever crossover appeal. This approach delighted existing fans with absurd, yet surprisingly on-brand creativity, generating significant viral buzz.
Elite Insight: Consider unlikely collabs for your next campaign. Surprise drives clicks, and pairing up with a complementary (or completely contrasting) brand can open doors to fresh audiences.
2. Pickle Pandemonium: The Unexpected Star
2025’s unofficial flavour mascot? The humble pickle. Briny, bold, and utterly divisive, it dominated April Fools’ like a new headliner at Taste of the Danforth.
Top Picks:
- Popeyes: Popeyes, the popular fast-food chain renowned for its fried chicken, teased the introduction of pickle lemonade and sandwiches. This bold move showcased the brand’s willingness to experiment with unexpected flavours, leaving fans both amused and curious about what a pickle-infused menu might taste like.
- Dutch Bros: Drive-thru coffee company Dutch Bros, known for its wide range of specialty coffee and energy drinks, surprised everyone with the announcement of a pickle energy drink. This definitely raised eyebrows, prompting a flurry of social media shares and comments as people reacted to the unusual concept, with a few adventurous souls even expressing a desire to try it.
- Extra Gum: Extra Gum, a well-known brand selling chewing gum in various flavours, playfully introduced dill pickle gum. This oddity sparked a lot of “wait, what?” moments and amusement, as people imagined the briny, savoury flavour in a typically sweet treat.
- Color Pop Cosmetics: Color Pop Cosmetics, a brand offering a variety of affordable and trendy makeup products, jumped on the pickle trend with a pickle-flavoured lip balm. This quirky idea was met with humour and amusement, with some jokingly saying they would be first in line to purchase such a unique product.
The “Pickle Pandemonium” of 2025 vividly demonstrated how a niche trend can explode into the mainstream with comedy. People eagerly shared the announcements, debated the merits of pickle-flavoured products, and reacted with a mix of surprise and amusement. This surge of engagement was a clear sign of marketing gold, proving even unexpected ideas can become viral.
Elite Insight: Monitor trending flavours and fan obsessions—then remix them into surprising content. Even the weirdest ideas can become your brand’s viral moment.
3. Food Fusion Fantasies: When Meals Go Wild
Mixing unexpected food combos became a trend that delighted taste buds—and twisted minds.
Deliciously Absurd Combos:
- Heinz: Heinz, renowned for its classic ketchup and vast range of sauces and condiments, introduced “Dubai Beans” with pistachio flavour. This exotic twist was perceived as a luxurious and unexpected take on a familiar product, piquing the interest of many with its blend of savoury and sweet.
- Subway: Subway, the sandwich chain known for customizable subs and salads, proposed a “Saucy Spirits” concept, pairing their sauces with alcoholic beverages. This unique idea got people thinking about the possibilities of such unexpected pairings, sparking imaginative discussions about flavour combinations.
- Skippy x Welch’s: Skippy, the popular peanut butter brand, and Welch’s, famous for its grape jelly and juice, joined forces to imagine peanut butter and jelly ice cream. This nostalgic and playful combination was met with widespread approval, with many finding it a delightful and whimsical idea.
The “Food Fusion Fantasies” trend tapped into a powerful blend of nostalgia, curiosity and the “dare to taste” spirit. By combining familiar foods in wildly imaginative ways, brands stirred up conversations, laughter and widespread media attention. The playful innovation not only entertained, it also demonstrated a brand’s willingness to push boundaries.
Elite Insight: Think about how your brand can remix the familiar into something quirky. What combination would surprise your audience while keeping your brand tone intact?
4. Flavour Frenzy: Putting Taste Where It Doesn’t Belong
Taking flavours way out of context was a recipe for hilarious surprise in 2025.
Savour the Strange:
- KFC x hismile: KFC, the globally recognized fried chicken chain, and hismile, a company that sells colourful and flavoured toothpaste, teamed up for an outlandish proposition: chicken-flavoured toothpaste. This bizarre concept was met with a mix of disgust and laughter, perfectly illustrating the shock value of placing a familiar flavour in an entirely unexpected context.
- Dry Bar: Dry Bar, known for its hair styling products and services, surprised its customers with the idea of pickle-scented dry shampoo. This oddity sparked amusement and confusion, with many wondering who would actually want their hair to smell like pickles.
The comedic brilliance of the “Flavour Frenzy” trend stemmed from the delightful clash of expectations. Placing familiar flavours in unexpected product categories created a sense of jarring surprise and humour. This bold move demonstrated how pushing sensory boundaries can generate memorable moments and fuel online conversations.
Elite Insight: Push sensory boundaries in playful ways. Scent and flavour can be more than taste—they’re emotional triggers that create lasting impressions.
5. Product Makeovers: Familiar, But Funnier
Brands took a basic product and gave it a wild twist—highlighting common desires, frustrations, or just pure absurdity.
Some Laugh-Out-Loud Rebrands:
- Crunch Bar: Crunch Bar, the classic chocolate bar with a crispy centre, relaunched itself as the “quietest bar” for stealthy snacking. This clever idea tapped into a common desire and generated a lot of laughs with its relatable premise.
- Dyson: Dyson, the company known for its high-tech home appliances like vacuums and hair dryers, proposed the “Airbrow”, a high-tech eyebrow styling tool. This futuristic and humourous concept had people imagining what such an advanced tool would look like and how it would work.
- UGG: UGG, the footwear and apparel company famous for its sheepskin boots, teased “extremely extra” knee-high boots. This humourous exaggeration had people picturing the most outlandish and over-the-top designs, adding to the fun.
The “Product Makeovers” strategy thrived on the power of relatability, tapping into the shared experiences of consumers. By taking a basic product and giving it a humourous twist, brands highlighted common desires and frustrations. This approach turned shared experiences into shared laughs, fostering a sense of connection between the brand and its audience.
Elite Insight: Rethink your everyday offerings. What’s one funny exaggeration or upside-down version of your product that customers would instantly get—and grin at?
6. Exaggerated Expectations: Going Big, Then Going Home
When in doubt, exaggerate. Wild claims ruled the day, tapping into wishful thinking, cultural frustrations, or just silly dreams.
Most Outlandish Claims:
- Victoria’s Secret: Victoria’s Secret, the retailer known for lingerie and beauty products, jokingly introduced “Boy Repellent” body mist. This exaggerated claim was met with humour and amusement, particularly resonating with their younger audience.
- Sol de Janeiro: Sol de Janeiro, a brand specializing in Brazilian-inspired body care products, playfully announced “Mub Mub Cream” with hilariously slow absorption. This humourous take on a common product frustration had people laughing at the relatable scenario.
- Facetune: Facetune, the popular photo editing app, proposed a skincare bottle that was actually a photo filter. This clever blend of physical and digital technology was seen as witty and relevant to today’s culture.
The “Exaggerated Expectations” campaigns excelled at capturing attention by eliciting a collective “Wait… WHAT?” from audiences. This moment of disbelief and surprise compelled people to stop scrolling and engage with the content. Wild claims and outrageous promises tapped into wishful thinking and cultural anxieties, proving hyperbole can drive engagement.
Elite Insight: Use hyperbole to entertain. You don’t need to promise the moon—just something ridiculous enough to feel real for a second.
7. Name Games and Brand Banter: Linguistic Laughter
Sometimes, all it takes is a twist of a word to tickle the brain.
Creative Wordplay:
- Jellycat: Jellycat, the company that creates whimsical and soft plush toys, launched an “Imaginary Friend” that was just a tag. This whimsical and creative idea was met with charm and imagination.
- Pura: Pura, the brand that sells smart home fragrance diffusers and scents, proposed “Guilty Pleasures Scents” like Puppy Breath and New Tires. This odd and amusing concept had people debating which scents they would actually want.
The “Name Games and Brand Banter” trend highlighted the effectiveness of linguistic play in marketing. Subtle branding tweaks and creative wordplay were surprisingly memorable and easy to share. When brands engaged in clever wordplay, they created a sense of delight and amusement that resonated with audiences.
Elite Insight: Explore fun name changes or tagline twists. A clever play on words is a quick win for social media engagement.
8. Experiential Escapades: Pranks That Go Beyond the Product
Some brands ditched traditional product tweaks for more abstract or experiential pranks.
Concept-Driven Creativity:
- Sweet Loren’s: Sweet Loren’s, known for its pre-made, allergy-friendly cookie dough, introduced edible glitter cookie dough. This fun and sparkly idea was seen as appealing and whimsical.
- Clean Skin Club: Clean Skin Club, the brand that sells disposable face towels for hygiene, teased beef-tallow infused face towels. This unusual and shocking concept elicited a range of reactions, from surprise to disgust.
The “Experiential Escapades” took the art of pranking to a more conceptual and imaginative level. These stunts were designed to be talked about, debated and envisioned, rather than necessarily believed. By embracing more abstract pranks, brands blurred the lines between idea and execution, sparking imagination and deeper engagement.
Elite Insight: Go conceptual. A fictional experience can sometimes be more effective than a fictional product.
Key Takeaways for Brands
So what can your brand learn from this joyful chaos? Here’s a deeper dive into the lessons April Fools’ Day 2025 served up on a silver (and slightly silly) platter.
1. Embrace the Absurd
You don’t have to stick to your usual playbook. In fact, April Fools’ campaigns show that stepping outside the lines—way outside—can create incredible brand affinity. Absurdity isn’t just comedy; it’s a strategy that allows audiences to see the more human side of your brand. By embracing the silly, the surreal, or even the ridiculous, brands signal they don’t take themselves too seriously, making them more relatable and approachable. That authenticity builds trust and loyalty, which are invaluable in today’s crowded digital space.
2. Collaborate Unexpectedly
Unusual brand pairings spark intrigue and excitement. When Duolingo teamed up with Carnival Cruise Line or when Coffee Mate mingled with Cheez-It, the internet paid attention. These collaborations create cross-promotional momentum, tapping into each brand’s audience while boosting social shareability. For marketers, this means reaching beyond the typical industry silos to find partnership potential in surprising places. Think beyond logic—what feels wildly unexpected might be what drives the most engagement.
3. Tap Into Trends
Timing is everything. Trends like pickles, AI, glitter, or even sensory novelty (hello, chicken toothpaste!) tap into the zeitgeist and increase the chances of virality. Successful brands aren’t just trend-aware—they’re trend-adaptive. They ride the wave while still anchoring their message in brand relevance. As a digital marketer, keeping your finger on the pulse of TikTok obsessions, emerging cultural fads, or social media jokes can help you craft campaigns that feel current and cool—not forced or outdated.
4. Reimagine the Everyday
Each day is fertile ground for fun. Familiar products with exaggerated or comical modifications resonate because they’re grounded in reality. Turning a phone case into a treadmill or making a candy bar “silent” draws laughs because people immediately recognize the core concept. This relatability enhances shareability. Look at your current offerings and ask: what’s the unexpected version of this? What problem could be hilariously over-solved? That’s your April Fools’ magic formula.
5. Stay On-Brand While Going Off-Script
Even the wildest prank should still feel like you. A prank that shocks but feels disconnected from your brand voice can confuse your audience. The best campaigns keep one foot firmly planted in your core identity. Whether it’s a cheeky extension of your product line or a pun on your mission statement, successful April Fools’ pranks reinforce—not derail—brand familiarity. Keep the humour, but stay aligned with your values, tone and customer expectations.
6. Track and Learn
April Fools’ Day may only come once a year, but the data it generates can fuel strategy long after the laughter fades. Which posts got the most shares? What kinds of comments came through? Which platforms drove the most buzz? Use performance analytics to measure impact, understand audience preferences, and determine which elements are worth integrating into future campaigns. Each prank is an opportunity to experiment—and each experiment is a chance to learn and optimize for bigger wins down the road.
Conclusion: April Fools’ Day as a Marketing Masterclass
April Fools’ Day in 2025 proved, once again, that when brands loosen their ties and lean into laughter, magic happens. This isn’t just seasonal silliness—it’s a creative spark that can ignite year-round innovation.
Whether you’re a beverage brand brainstorming bizarre blends or a tech company toying with fictional features, April 1st is your invitation to be bold, unexpected and unforgettable.
At Elite Digital, we help brands tap into that magic every day of the year. From campaign strategy to execution, we’re your creative co-pilots—here to help you prank with purpose, laugh with logic, and make moments that stick. Contact us today to get started!
