NATURE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS “SUN SHADOWS” TURNS THE SUNSET INTO THE ULTIMATE BILLBOARD
Nature became the creative force behind Corona’s viral Cape Town activation, inspiring thousands of people to pause, embrace the golden hour and rediscover life outdoors.
Cape Town, 24 August 2026 – Fresh off the success of its viral Sun Shadows activation, recently in Cape Town, Corona is celebrating that nature can be the most powerful creative partner of all. Rather than building another billboard, the brand simply framed the sunset, allowing solar physics, surrounding architecture and a simple chalk outline to transform long winter shadows into the unmistakable silhouette of a Corona bottle, for just a fleeting 10 to 15 minutes each evening.
The activation became a daily moment of discovery, surprising pedestrians and commuters on their journey home while generating significant organic conversation across social media.
The installation reached thousands of passersby over the course of the activation, transforming an ordinary walk home into an unexpected reminder that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen outdoors. As audiences captured and shared the experience online, Sun Shadows quickly evolved from a street-level activation into a viral celebration of nature as the ultimate creative partner.
The campaign was inspired by a striking reality: modern adults now spend approximately 95% of their lives indoors. As workdays increasingly unfold behind desks and screens, Corona set out to intercept people during the final moments of the day, encouraging them to swap screen fatigue for fresh air and embrace the restorative power of the golden hour.
Unlike traditional outdoor advertising, Sun Shadows relied entirely on astronomical calculations, the position of the winter sun and existing city architecture. There were no digital screens, CGI, projection mapping or visual effects. Every evening, for only a brief window before sunset disappeared below the horizon, nature completed the creative idea before it faded away until the following day.
“Sun Shadows is a celebration of everything Corona stands for,” says Vaughan Croeser, Vice President of Marketing: South African Breweries. “The insight that we spend around 95% of our lives indoors challenged us to create something that would gently interrupt routine and encourage people to look up, pause and reconnect with the world outside. Watching thousands of people stop in their tracks to experience something created entirely by nature was incredibly rewarding. It reinforces our belief that spending time outdoors, even for a few moments at sunset, isn’t a distraction from life. It’s an essential part of living well.”
Croeser adds, “Most campaigns are designed to eliminate unpredictability, but we chose to embrace it. Every calculation relied on the precise movement of the sun, surrounding buildings and seasonal light, while the weather remained beyond our control. When everything aligned, the shadow created a truly magical moment because it belonged to nature, not to us.”
As conversations around digital overload, burnout and mental wellbeing continue to grow, Sun Shadows offers a simple reminder that reconnecting with nature does not require elaborate planning. Sometimes, it starts with stepping outside, slowing down for a few minutes and allowing the setting sun to do what it has always done best.
For Corona, the campaign is another expression of a philosophy that has defined the brand for decades: life is always better lived outside.
ENDS
About Corona Global:
The world’s most valuable beer brand (*Brand Finance report 2025), Corona, an AB InBev global brand, is the iconic beer brand that is synonymous with paradise with a presence in 180 countries. Recognized as the world’s most valuable beer brand in Kantar’s BrandZ global 2024 rankings, Corona invites the world outside, beckoning you to reconnect with your essential nature and embrace the simple pleasures of life. But it’s not just about the beer – it’s about the ritual. The ritual of adding a slice of lime to your Corona, an experience that elevates the moment. Corona isn’t just a beverage; it’s nature in a bottle. And we strive to help protect nature and have become the first global beverage brand with a net-zero plastic footprint. This builds on our longstanding ambition to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. Every sip of Corona is a celebration of nature and the beauty of the world around us.
About South African Breweries:
The South African Breweries (SAB) has reimagined what a beer company can be and has anchored this in a powerful brand purpose – We Dream Big to Create a Future With More Cheers. At SAB it’s always about more than the beer. We are driven by our passion to demonstrate the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. Since our inception over a century ago, SAB has grown to become South Africa’s largest brewer, a powerful economic contributor, a leader in sustainability, and a champion of responsible consumption. SAB is one of South Africa’s admired companies and corporate brands. The company operates 7 breweries and 42 depots in South Africa, a total workforce of approximately 5 000, and supports a beer economy ‘from seed to sip’ of over 250 000 jobs. Its portfolio of beer brands meets the needs of a wide range of consumers and includes leading brands in beer and beyond such as Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Corona, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish.
We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Beer is the drink for moderation, and for over a century, SAB has championed responsible drinking. We are committed to providing our consumers with Balanced Choices to enjoy on any occasion. We also invest in marketing that aims to reinforce positive behaviors, and we work with communities, customers, and partners to promote responsible consumption through evidence-based initiatives.
