Best Branded AR Filters in May | AR Marketing Selection May

As the months get warmer, so do the minds of marketers, trying to come up with new, fresh campaigns that users won’t scroll past. As the needs of modern audiences evolve, many recognise the potential of interactivity rather than passive advertising and turn to Augmented Reality to create truly engaging, interesting experiences that users want to participate in.

Most cultural events, sports tournaments, movie premieres, or pop culture announcements now come with an AR Filter, making social media users not only spectators but active participants in all the latest trends and events.

May was no different: with Eurovision, the NBA Playoffs, the latest movie premieres, and more, users on Snapchat and TikTok were treated by brands and marketers to dozens of opportunities to become a part of the campaign, naturally increasing its reach worldwide.

Eurovision 2025

As always, the European Song Contest was on everyone’s lips across the continent in May, sparking conversations about the artists, the points, and the ultimate winner. The discussion also reached Augmented Reality, with Eurovision launching TikTok Effects to keep the conversation going. Once again, the public was at the core of the event, this time sharing their opinions through AR.

With these experiences, users could express their own thoughts about this year’s songs by finding their perfect match through a head-controlled ranking or selecting songs into specific tiers, encouraging users to take part in the voting process on the day of the finale.

The AR World of Tim Burton at Design Museum in London

With the Tim Burton exhibition coming to an end on May 26th, the Design Museum in London extended last-minute invitations to social media users with Augmented Reality.

Bringing together the director’s collection of drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, set and costume design, the AR Experience created an interactive, animated ambience filled with shapes and characters based on Tim Burton’s legacy.

The exhibition used interdisciplinary measures to celebrate the full extent of his production as an illustrator, painter, photographer, and author, as well as exploring key collaborations with designers.

How To Train Your Dragon…with AR

Joining other animations-turned-live-action movies by Disney, the How To Train Your Dragon movie will hit theatres on June 13, with campaigns promoting the film already taking over social media. Users on both Snapchat and TikTok can embrace their dragon-trainer spirit and become the main character with AR Experiences that bring the magical world out from the frames into the real world.

Whether it’s finding your favourite dragon, becoming one of the characters, or even transforming your real pet into a flying dragon, Augmented Reality keeps the fans entertained and excited while we await the movie’s premiere.

Red Bull activation on Snapchat

With Red Bull’s goal to keep your energy levels high, it’s no wonder the brand reaches out to its audience through Augmented Reality, directly engaging them in the campaign. Whether it’s encouraging users to move in a score-based fitness challenge or turning each space into a private party, the energy drink brand uses AR to express its fun, energetic nature, making users, and potential customers, a part of the fun.

These campaigns are just a glimpse into the growing role of Augmented Reality in the marketing world. AR allows brands to blur the line between digital and real-life experiences, making advertising more interactive, memorable, and shareable.

As platforms continue to prioritize immersive content, AR will only become more integral to how brands connect with audiences, turning everyday users into active storytellers, and transforming campaigns into viral, participatory experiences.