Outdoor Advertising for Key Events: Top 10 Places You Want to Be Seen
Every April, Coachella dominates the conversation, while South by Southwest steals the spotlight in March and the Grammys set the tone in January. Major events continue to hijack social media buzz, sparking new hashtags and driving widespread attention.
Savvy companies recognize these “see and be seen” moments as golden opportunities. By advertising at high-profile events, you reach not only those who attend, but also the vast audience that follows and discusses these experiences online.
Here are 10 can’t-miss events that will elevate your brand’s presence in 2025 and beyond.
1. Art Basel
Art Basel is one of the most prestigious art fairs in the world, held annually in Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Basel, Switzerland. These events attract tens of thousands of collectors, artists, and trendsetters who are ready to engage with bold, often provocative displays that challenge the boundaries of traditional aesthetics. From immersive installations to unexpected street performances—nothing is off limits. (Yes, even dozens of naked people lying in the street. It’s art, after all.)
Art Basel outdoor advertising opportunities: Many DASH TWO clients leverage Wild Posting® around the Wynwood District, Miami’s vibrant art hub. Wallscapes and standard bulletins downtown are perfect for targeting both tourists and industry insiders. Don’t overlook Miami’s free trolleys—trolley ads are a great way to reach eventgoers en route to exhibits or heading back to their hotels.
Advertisers should be comfortable with edgy, unpredictable content—and be open to partnerships with Art Basel organizers for deeper brand integration.
Upcoming Art Basel dates: Miami Beach, Dec. 5–8, 2025 | Hong Kong, March 2025 (dates TBD)
2. Fashion Week
There are Fashion Weeks hosted in cities across the globe—from Paris and Milan to Tokyo and São Paulo—but none compare to the influence and media buzz of New York Fashion Week. This biannual event serves as a showcase for cutting-edge design, where fashion houses, independent designers, and emerging labels present their collections to buyers, influencers, press, and trend-chasing celebrities.
NYC Fashion Week outdoor advertising opportunities: With so much activity and foot traffic near Fashion Week venues, Wild Posting® is a go-to strategy for high-impact brand presence. For fall activations, chalk stencils on sidewalks around hot zones like Spring Studios and the Meatpacking District create buzz—though be mindful that stencils are weather-dependent and less effective in winter months.
Looking for something more official? Sponsorship packages offer premium access and guaranteed exposure—but come at a premium price. For indie brands or niche designers, out-of-home tactics like wrapped vehicles or LED trucks also deliver visibility without the steep price tag of formal sponsorships.
Upcoming NYC Fashion Week dates: February 6–13, 2025 | September 11–16, 2025
3. Grammys
The Grammy Awards have a cultural cachet few other awards shows can match. While the Oscars and Emmys skew older and more traditional, the Grammys pulse with energy, creativity, and youth appeal. That makes them a prime moment for brands trying to connect with younger, music-loving audiences. In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, Los Angeles becomes a hotspot for music-centric outdoor advertising—especially targeting industry insiders, artists, and voting members.
Grammys outdoor advertising opportunities: Billboards reign supreme in both Los Angeles and New York City. In LA, focus on Hollywood, downtown, and key corridors near venues and hotels hosting official events and afterparties. In NYC, Times Square remains a high-visibility play for brand presence. Nashville, the heart of country music, is also a great place to run bulletins, especially if your audience includes artists, fans, or industry execs in that genre.
Want to tap into the scene without paying for official sponsorship? Target parties, pop-ups, and experiential locations in Grammy-adjacent neighborhoods to get your brand in front of tastemakers.
Upcoming Grammy Awards date: January 26, 2025
4. Coachella
One of the most iconic music festivals in the world, Coachella draws more than 250,000 attendees across two weekends in the California desert. With headliners ranging from Madonna to Beyoncé to Bad Bunny, it’s a can’t-miss cultural moment. But Coachella isn’t just about music—it’s a full-blown lifestyle event. The media buzz begins months before the gates open and lingers long after, making it a prime opportunity for brand exposure.
Coachella outdoor advertising opportunities: The single most effective placement is a billboard along the main route into the festival grounds in Indio. These premium locations are viewed by nearly every attendee and offer unmatched visibility. Other strategies include wrapped rideshare vehicles, LED mobile trucks, and Wild Posting® in nearby Palm Springs and along the I-10 corridor.
Want a proven example of how to make an impact at Coachella? Check out our campaign for Lady Gaga, which turned heads and generated serious social media buzz.
Upcoming Coachella dates: April 11–13 & April 18–20, 2025
5. South by Southwest (SXSW)
Each March, creatives and innovators descend on Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest—a mashup of music, film, tech, gaming, and culture that sets the tone for what’s next. Since its start in 1987, SXSW has grown into a full-on brand playground, where big names and indie upstarts alike test ideas, launch products, and make headlines. It’s one of the most influential events of the year—and a goldmine for smart, strategic outdoor advertising.
SXSW outdoor advertising opportunities: While there are official sponsorship options, the real visibility often comes from creative guerrilla-style campaigns around the city. We’ve helped brands build buzz with unique activations in areas where festivalgoers hang out most—think trendy hotels, local restaurants, and around Rainey Street or South Congress.
- Wrapped or branded pedicabs that shuttle attendees between venues
- Digital and static billboards in downtown Austin
- Targeted ads in the Austin-Bergstrom airport, where nearly all attendees fly in
Let us help you brainstorm a one-of-a-kind SXSW media plan that stands out from the crowd.
Upcoming SXSW dates: March 7–15, 2025
6. Lollapalooza
Born during the grunge movement of the 1990s, Lollapalooza has evolved into one of the most anticipated music festivals in the U.S. Now a four-day event held annually in Chicago’s Grant Park, Lolla features over 170 bands across eight stages. With past headliners like Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino, it’s a perfect blend of mainstream stars and emerging artists—and a massive opportunity for brand visibility.
Lollapalooza outdoor advertising opportunities: While official sponsorship offers premium on-site perks like branded tents and social media promotion, non-sponsor brands can still make a huge impact. Since there are no billboard placements leading directly into Grant Park, smart advertisers focus on high-traffic zones downtown and in neighborhoods north of the park, where concertgoers eat, sleep, and party. Use formats like:
- Billboards in River North, The Loop, and along Lakeshore Drive
- Wild Posting® near CTA stations, bars, and trendy neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Logan Square
- Wrapped rideshare cars or digital trucks for mobile exposure near the venue
Looking to target festivalgoers without the sponsor price tag? Our team can help you craft a custom strategy that connects with music fans before, during, and after the event.
Upcoming Lollapalooza dates: July 31–August 3, 2025
7. Pitchfork Music Festival
Another can’t-miss music moment in Chicago, the Pitchfork Music Festival brings together about 50,000 indie music lovers each July for a weekend of eclectic performances, vinyl hunting, and laid-back vibes. Unlike the massive Lollapalooza crowd, Pitchfork’s audience is more niche—making it a great fit for brands looking to target tastemakers, audiophiles, and culturally savvy millennials and Gen Zers.
Pitchfork outdoor advertising opportunities: Many of the same tactics that work for Lolla apply here—just with more opportunity to get hyper-targeted. Focus on:
- Wild Posting® near the venue (Union Park), plus hot spots like Logan Square, Wicker Park, and Fulton Market
- Billboards along the Kennedy Expressway and downtown corridors
- Creative extensions like branded pedicabs or sidewalk stencils near CTA stations
Pitchfork offers a perfect chance to build buzz among trendsetters and music superfans. Whether you’re an emerging brand or a global name looking to stay culturally relevant, this is a high-impact way to show up.
Pitchfork Music Festival dates: July 18–20, 2025 (TBC)
8. Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Head into the country for the four-day Bonnaroo music fest, where a huge range of musical genres converges along with 80,000 fans. Jay Z has played here as well as Phish, Eminem, the White Stripes and even, huh, the Beach Boys. It takes place on hundreds of acres in Tennessee, and brands can stake out a claim in Centeroo, which is open 24/7, or find other ingenious ways to connect.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival outdoor advertising opportunities: Manchester, Tennessee, where the festival is held, is about an hour outside Nashville, where advertisers can reach Bonnaroo attendees with bulletins and wall murals, which are fairly cheap in the city.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival dates: June 11 to 14, 2020
9. Electric Daisy Carnival
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is one of the world’s biggest and most visually stunning electronic dance music festivals. While it started in the 1990s, its flagship event in Las Vegas now draws over 230,000 ravers, making it a cultural and branding hotspot. Past headliners include Calvin Harris, Afrojack, Yellow Claw, and Zedd. The festival is a sensory overload of lights, sound, and energy—and an ideal venue for immersive advertising.
EDC Las Vegas outdoor advertising opportunities: In a city known for bold visuals, billboards reign supreme. Focus your campaign on:
- I-15 corridor: High-visibility bulletins leading into Las Vegas from Southern California
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway area: Strategically placed signage near the venue for day-of impact
- The Strip: Digital billboards and LED mobile trucks are attention-grabbing in this high-traffic zone
With its massive crowds and strong social media presence, EDC offers unparalleled visibility for brands in music, tech, fashion, and lifestyle. If you want to make noise with the next generation of fans, this is your stage.
EDC Las Vegas 2025 dates: May 16–18, 2025
10. Super Bowl
No explanation needed—the Super Bowl is the biggest single-day sporting event in the United States, drawing over 100 million TV viewers and hundreds of thousands of in-person attendees, media, and corporate decision-makers to the host city each year.
Super Bowl outdoor advertising opportunities: Because the host city changes annually, each location brings new potential for impact. For 2025, the game will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Focus your campaign on:
- Downtown New Orleans: Digital and static billboards around Bourbon Street, Canal Street, and the French Quarter
- Transit advertising on bus benches, shelters, and streetcars near key venues
- Airport and hospitality zones: Target travelers arriving at MSY and staying near the Superdome or Warehouse District
The Super Bowl offers a rare opportunity to connect with fans, influencers, and global brands all in one place. Even if you’re not an official sponsor, a strong OOH campaign in the host city can generate major buzz and social lift.
Super Bowl LIX (2025) date: February 9, 2025