From Tragic to Iconic: The Best April Fools’ Marketing Campaigns of 2025
April Fools’ Day is always an opportunity for brands to let their hair down and have a bit of fun, but 2025 took things to a whole new level. While some campaigns were… let’s say “interesting,” others absolutely nailed it — blending creativity, humour, and just the right amount of mischief.
Here are some of the best April Fools’ marketing moments that had us fooled, laughing, or low-key wishing they were real:
🍭 Chupa Chups: The Zip-Pop Lollipop
Chupa Chups grabbed attention this year with a campaign that featured an all-new “zip” on their classic lollipops. Instead of simply unwrapping the sweet treat, they introduced a functional zipper that, once opened, revealed the lollipop inside. This quirky twist was presented as a bold innovation in snack packaging, purportedly aimed at making the lollipop experience “more fun and convenient.” Fans were left scratching their heads at the seemingly unnecessary yet oddly intriguing addition, before realising it was all part of the brand’s cheeky April Fools’ Day prank. A brilliantly playful move that truly had us zipping into a world of bizarre possibilities.
😈 Just Patch Kids: Sweet Rebrand Energy
Sour Patch Kids decided to ditch their sour reputation this April 1st. Their “Just Patch Kids” campaign imagined a world where the beloved candy swapped its trademark sourness for straight-up sweetness. The announcement came with rebranded packaging, new taglines like “First they’re sweet… and then still sweet,” and mock testimonials from the formerly sour characters turning over a new leaf. Fans loved the wholesome twist and the tongue-in-cheek humour behind the rebrand.
🪑 IKEA’s Build-Your-Own Sofa Bed (for Pets)
IKEA joined in with a hilarious release of a miniature flat-pack furniture range just for pets. The campaign featured dramatic product shots of cats lounging on tiny Klippan sofas and dogs enjoying pint-sized Poäng chairs. Bonus points to IKEA for including a full “instruction manual” and Allen key visuals — because, obviously, even your pug needs to assemble their own furniture.
🧼 Lush: Eau de Loo
Lush jumped into the fun with the fake launch of a fragrance line called Eau de Loo, inspired by… public toilets. The bizarre concept included scents like “Tube Station Chic” and “Festival Portaloo,” with product photography so on-brand it almost had us wondering if it was real. Gross? Yes. Funny? Also yes.
🍗 KFC’s Chicken-Scented Sunscreen (Return of a Legend)
KFC resurrected one of its most iconic joke products — chicken-scented sunscreen — with a twist. This time, they claimed it was launching as part of a luxury skincare line under the name “Colonel’s Complexion.” Complete with a parody campaign featuring influencer testimonials and glossy lifestyle shots, it was a nostalgic throwback with a 2025 upgrade.
What Makes a Great April Fools’ Campaign?
The best campaigns are the ones that make us do a double take. They’re playful, clever, and self-aware — blurring the line between possible and absurd without losing the brand’s essence. From rebrands to imaginary products, these brands showed us how to own the moment and have fun with their audience.
Got a favourite April Fools’ campaign we missed? Let us know — we’re still recovering from the secondhand embarrassment of some of the not-so-great ones.
