Ads of the Week Deals Roundup: Brands to Watch for Sweepstakes, Promo Codes, and Limited Merch

Hook: Stop Missing the Good Stuff — How to Catch Ads of the Week That Actually Give You Freebies, Codes, or Must-Have Merch

Wasting hours scrolling through ads and still missing the one promo that mattered? You're not alone. Between flash drops, short-lived promo codes and sweepstakes that close in 24 hours, it feels impossible to keep up — especially when brands bury offers inside big creative campaigns or test them as ephemeral activations. This weekly roundup mines Adweek’s standout brand campaigns so you don’t have to: we surface which ads include sweepstakes deals, valid promo codes, and limited merch worth chasing, then give you step-by-step tactics to actually win or redeem them in 2026. Also: use the right tracking tools to stay fast.

Top-level Takeaway — What matters this week

From Lego’s stance on AI to Netflix’s tarot-themed push and a goth musical collab between e.l.f. and Liquid Death, several Adweek-featured campaigns are more than ads — they’re commerce activations. That means brands are marrying high-impact creative with limited-time opportunities for consumers: exclusive merch drops, ticketed experiences, promo codes hidden in hero spots, and sweepstakes tied to social engagement. If you want a piece of these offers, prioritize speed, verification, and the right tracking tools.

Ads of the Week: Brands to Watch (and How to Score Their Offers)

Below we break down the campaigns Adweek called out this week and explain the exact playbook to find any embedded offers — from giveaways to merch drops.

1) Lego — "We Trust in Kids" (Watch for educational kit bundles & classroom promo codes)

Lego’s latest campaign shifts the AI conversation to kids and schools, positioning its educational tools as solutions for classrooms that lack AI policy. When brands headline education and social good, they often pair that with limited offers: classroom bundle giveaways, teacher discount codes, or downloadable curriculum kits that come with exclusive promo codes.

• How to catch it: Follow Lego’s Education and regional social accounts, sign up for the Lego Education mailing list, and monitor the campaign hub on brand sites — giveaways are frequently announced on dedicated landing pages or via teacher-focused newsletters.
• Quick tip: Schools and educators often get exclusive bulk discounts or code-protected bundles; verify eligibility requirements early (school email, tax ID, or proof of employment).

2) e.l.f. Cosmetics + Liquid Death — Gothic Musical Collab (Expect collab merch and limited promo codes)

Collaborations like this thrive on dual-audience hype: beauty fans plus alt beverage followers. Expect limited-edition merch or co-branded product drops tied to the musical; these are commonly sold in timed drops or raffled to followers who engage with the campaign video.

• How to catch it: Monitor both brands’ Instagram Reels, TikTok posts and pinned links. Collabs often debut a buy window then use a waitlist/raffle for final sales.
• Pro move: Use a separate email for raffles and have autofill ready — limited windows mean seconds count.

3) Skittles — Skipping the Super Bowl for a Stunt with Elijah Wood (Look for experiential merch & sweepstakes)

Skittles opted for a stunt instead of a Super Bowl spot. That often translates into experiential activations: pop-up events, collectible merch drops, or sweepstakes for VIP experiences (tickets, stunt meet-and-greets).

• How to catch it: Follow the talent involved (like Elijah Wood), Skittles’ official channels, and Adweek for updates. Event-related giveaways often require RSVPs or quick-entry forms on microsites.
• Verification: Only enter sweepstakes through official brand microsites or verified social posts to avoid phishing scams.

4) Cadbury — Heartfelt Short Film (Chocolate giveaways & cause tie-in merch)

Story-driven spots like Cadbury’s frequently pair emotional creative with cause-based activations: limited chocolate bundles, redemption codes inside short-film pages, or merch where proceeds support a charity.

• How to catch it: Look for campaign landing pages linked in press pieces and paid social. If the film links to a shop or donation page, there’s often a promo token or limited coupon embedded in the copy.
• Tip: Track expiry dates. Cause-linked discounts often have short validity windows tied to campaign fundraising timelines.

5) Heinz — Portable Ketchup Solution (Product pre-orders & promo availability)

Product innovations like Heinz’s portable-solution ad frequently launch with pre-order incentives or coupon codes for early buyers to drive initial velocity.

• How to catch it: Check the brand’s pre-order page and Amazon listing (if applicable). Retail partners sometimes hold exclusive codes for early access.
• Pro tip: Create alerts for UPC or SKU numbers so you’re instantly notified when retailers add the product.

6) KFC — Making Tuesdays "Finger Lickin’ Good" (Promos & limited-time menu deals)

KFC’s Most Effective Ad of the Week push hints at tactical national promos — think daypart coupons, app-only codes or a limited merch collab released in tandem with the spot.

• How to catch it: Tap into the KFC app notifications, subscribe to email blasts, and check brand social for in-post coupon codes (often short alphanumeric strings). Use your phone optimized for quick checkout — see our phone guide for live commerce.
• Insider move: Mobile app exclusives are common — have your payments pre-saved and location enabled to claim flash deals the moment they land.

7) Netflix — "What Next" Tarot Themed Campaign (Merch hubs, interactive sweepstakes & fan experiences)

Netflix’s multi-market rollout and its dedicated hub (Tudum’s surge in traffic in early Jan. 2026) are textbook for integrated commerce activations. Expect collectible merch drops, interactive quizzes that unlock promo codes, and entry-gated sweepstakes for premiere tickets or themed experiences.

• How to catch it: Bookmark the campaign hub, follow Tudum and the show’s social handles, and watch for “Discover Your Future” style microsites that gate offers behind quizzes or social shares.
• What to expect in 2026: Shoppable moments built directly into streaming promos and streaming-linked merch drops.

8) "I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter" — Gordon Ramsay Spot (Promo codes tied to recipes & influencer collabs)

Celebrity-fronted spots often unlock discount codes through recipe pages, affiliate promo codes used by influencers, or sweepstakes for culinary experiences.

• How to catch it: Visit the brand recipe hub, and follow the influencer partners for exclusive affiliate codes. Recipe pages often drop time-limited savings or coupon codes for grocery partners — tip: learn how creators structure viral deal posts.
• Safety note: Validate coupon strings via merchant checkout and take screenshots of terms if you’re using an influencer-only offer.

Move fast: the best campaign offers live for hours or days — not weeks.

How We Vet These Offers — Trust & Verification (E-E-A-T in Practice)

We pull brand mentions from respected trade coverage (Adweek, brand press releases, and verified social accounts) and cross-check campaign landing pages before flagging any activation as worth pursuing. Here’s our verification checklist you can use:

1. Confirm the offer on the brand’s official domain or verified social handles.
2. Check for a specific promo token or microsite; generic homepage mentions aren’t enough.
3. Read the official terms & conditions — look for eligibility, region exclusions, and expiry.
4. Validate third-party retailer codes at checkout (take screenshots of the offer page).
5. Beware of DMs or unverified pages promising exclusive codes — cross-check via brand press channels.

Advanced Strategies for 2026 — Win More Drops, Codes, and Sweepstakes

Here are high-impact tricks the deal-savvy use in 2026 to convert brand activations into real savings or collectible merch.

1) Automate alerts with feeds + AI sniffers

Set Google Alerts for campaign names, use RSS readers for Adweek and brand blogs, and deploy AI-powered monitoring tools that flag new campaign pages or microsite launches. In 2026, more brands launch commerce activations inside ephemeral landing pages — automation is your edge.

2) Use token-gated and social-first entry methods

Many 2025–26 campaigns use gated entries: quiz completions, NFT ownership checks, or social actions. Keep a small roster of verified crypto wallets if you expect token-gated drops, and use segregated social accounts to join multiple entry paths without compromising your main profiles.

3) Master checkout speed

Limited merch drops still favor the fastest checkouts. Use autofill, pre-saved payment methods, and a dedicated shipping address on mobile and desktop. If brands use waitlist/raffle models, get in early to secure better odds — and make sure your device and plan match best practices for live commerce (phone guide).

4) Stack local and partner promos (where allowed)

Some activations release a brand-level promo code that works at a national partner (retailer or fast-food chain). Where stacking is permitted, apply an app-only coupon during checkout and then use a manufacturer code on top — always confirm stacking rules in the T&Cs.

5) Leverage creator codes and affiliate links

Creators still get exclusive promo strings. Follow influencer partners highlighted in Adweek pieces; creator codes sometimes unlock small discounts plus entry into larger sweepstakes.

6) Plan for region-specific offers

Brands localize campaigns. Use VPNs sparingly to view foreign microsites and validate whether sweepstakes or drops are region-locked. Always follow the legal terms; some offers explicitly disallow cross-border entries.

Protect Yourself — Avoid Scams and False Promises

As more marketing activations monetize scarcity, scams rise too. Guardrails to keep your data and money safe:

• Only enter promos on verified domains (check the SSL certificate and official social links).
• Don't pay to enter sweepstakes — legitimate brand sweepstakes are free to enter.
• Watch out for cloned microsites and influencer DMs promising instant codes; verify via the brand’s main channels and consult a fraud playbook if something looks off.
• For token-gated drops, confirm on-chain credentials with reputable explorers and community confirmation.

Real-World Case Study: Netflix’s Tarot Push — How Fans Turned Campaign Buzz into Merch Wins

Netflix’s "What Next" tarot-themed campaign, which earned massive owned impressions and Tudum traffic in early January 2026, demonstrates how integrated marketing leads to commerce activations. Netflix created a shoppable hub and localized rollouts across 34 markets — and fans quickly found three ways to capitalize:

• Interactive quizzes on the campaign hub that unlocked unique promo codes for show-themed merch.
• Limited-time themed drops on Netflix’s merch partner site that used a waitlist/raffle model to handle demand.
• Social sweepstakes for premiere access, promoted via talent handles and Tudum features.

Lesson: when a campaign spans owned channels and earned media, offers can hide in plain sight — so check the campaign hub and press partner pages for promo tokens or raffle links.

Weekly Checklist: How to Chase Ads of the Week Like a Pro

1. Scan the Adweek “Ads of the Week” and click campaign links — bookmark microsites.
2. Subscribe to the brand’s mailing list and enable app push notifications.
3. Follow the campaign’s talent and agency accounts for behind-the-scenes codes or VIP drops.
4. Use an RSS feed + Google Alert combination for instant crawl hits on new campaign pages.
5. Prepare checkout autofill and a payment backup to avoid cart timeouts.
6. Archive terms & screenshots of offers immediately after you claim them.

2026 Trends to Watch — What Will Shape Ads of the Week Next

Late 2025 and early 2026 set several clear trajectories that will affect how brands gate giveaways and merch:

• Shoppable CTV and streaming promos: Short-form hero ads will increasingly carry one-click shoppable overlays. Expect codes embedded inside streaming experiences in 2026.
• Tokenized merch and fan pass NFTs: Brands are experimenting with token-gated drops; read about the risks and mechanics of token drops and collectables at When Digital Maps Become Treasure.
• Creator-led micro-drops: Collaborations (like e.l.f. x Liquid Death) accelerate limited releases that live primarily on creator channels — see maker pop-up strategies at Advanced Strategies for Maker Pop-Ups.
• Privacy-first targeting: With the cookieless shift maturing by 2026, expect more first-party gated activations and email/SMS-exclusive codes — the regulatory background matters, see recent privacy and marketplace coverage.
• Ephemeral coupon windows: Brands will favor short, high-impact promo runs to boost urgency and social chatter.

Final Action Plan — What You Should Do Right Now

Start with three fast wins: subscribe to brand newsletters for the campaigns highlighted above, set Google Alerts for the brand names and campaign tags, and enable push notifications for the top 3 apps (KFC, Netflix, Lego) you care about. Prepare a dedicated account for raffles and one autofill profile for rapid checkout. Finally, check viral.discount for quick flags — this column will highlight the exact URLs and codes we vet each week.

Closing — Don’t Wait. Get the Drop, the Code, and the Win.

Ads are no longer just brand storytelling — they’re the front door to commerce activations that reward speed and savvy. Use the playbook above to capture sweepstakes entries, redeem promo codes, and snag limited merch drops before they vanish. We’ll be back next week with another Ads of the Week roundup that mines Adweek and other trade coverage for the offers worth your time.

Call to action: Want instant alerts for sweepstakes, codes, and merch drops we feature here? Subscribe to the viral.discount Alerts and follow our weekly Ads of the Week column to get verified links and step-by-step redemption tips every Friday.

Related Reading

• Micro-Event Playbook for Social Live Hosts in 2026
• Pop-Up Tech and Hybrid Showroom Kits for Touring Makers (2026)
• Creative Automation in 2026: Templates & Adaptive Stories
• Marketplace Safety & Fraud Playbook (2026)
• Buyer’s Guide: Choosing a Phone for Live Commerce
• Screencast: Creating a Pitch Deck for a Graphic Novel Studio — Templates & Walkthrough
• AI Chip Demand and Memory Price Inflation: Implications for Quantum Labs and Simulation Clusters
• Limited Drops: Lessons from Magic: The Gathering for Launching Collector Jewelry
• How to Outfit a Tiny Kitchen for Entertaining: Lighting, Coffee and Cozy Hacks
• How to Keep Garage Openers, Locks and Cameras Working During ISP or CDN Outages