Alex Honnold Shocks Viewers After Free-Climbing Taipei 101 Live on Netflix

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As a total film and adventure junkie, I was glued to the screen on Sunday watching Alex Honnold do something absolutely insane! He free-soloed Taipei 101 – that’s climbing the 1,667-foot skyscraper in Taiwan with absolutely no ropes or safety gear. It was a live event on Netflix, and honestly, it was breathtaking to watch, even for someone who’s seen a lot of climbing films. Everyone was on the edge of their seats!

It took Honnold around ninety minutes to reach the top of the tower. When he finally arrived, the crowd watching from the ground erupted in applause. He celebrated on the summit by waving and enjoying the scenery.

After finishing the climb, he described the view as breathtaking during the Netflix broadcast. “It was just an incredible view, and such a beautiful day,” he said. He also shared that the final part of the climb was nerve-wracking. “It was really windy, and I was just focused on not falling off! I was trying to stay balanced,” he explained.

Honnold scaled the building, gripping tiny metal features and narrow architectural ledges – details intended for the building’s design, not for climbing. He had to maneuver around large, protruding decorations as he ascended, using only his hands and feet to carefully pull himself up.

Taipei 101’s unique stacked structure, resembling a series of bamboo sections, presented a significant challenge for Honnold during his climb. The most difficult part involved long, overhanging sections that he had to power through. Fortunately, small balconies offered brief resting points to recover before continuing his ascent.

I was absolutely blown away watching Alex Honnold’s climb of the Taipei 101! He free soloed the entire skyscraper – meaning he climbed it with absolutely no ropes or safety gear – and it was all broadcast live on Netflix with just a 10-second delay. It was incredible to witness! You can find more details about it here:

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 25, 2026

The entire climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a slight delay. The stream revealed the climb was originally scheduled for the previous day but was pushed back due to rain. This event was part of Netflix’s ‘Skyscraper Live’ special, a unique broadcast showcasing a high-risk climb in real time.

Honnold explained that the crowd made this climb unique compared to his typical ascents, which usually take place in remote locations. He shared during the broadcast, “When I started climbing, it felt intense knowing so many people were watching. But honestly, everyone was supportive, which made the experience feel more like a celebration.”

The climb ignited an online discussion about the ethics of broadcasting such dangerous feats live. Although others have climbed Taipei 101 in the past, Netflix and news outlets highlighted that Honnold was the first to do so without any ropes or safety gear. Alain Robert, a French climber, scaled the building in 2004, but he did use safety equipment.

Alex Honnold became world-famous for his incredible ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite, featured in the Academy Award-winning film Free Solo. He now lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Sanni McCandless, and their two daughters, and continues to pursue climbing alongside family life, as reported by National Geographic and Netflix.

Alex Honnold is known for more than just climbing; he also leads the Honnold Foundation, which funds solar energy projects in communities that lack access to it. He’s currently working on a National Geographic film called The Devil’s Climb, documenting a challenging new adventure with climber Tommy Caldwell. News reports indicate that Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te praised Honnold’s climb, noting that it brought international attention to the country.

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2026-01-25 19:48