Alex Honnold Successfully Free Solos Taipei 101: Historic Climb Completed Live on Netflix

By Alison Rosen | January 25, 2026

Alex Honnold completed a historic free solo climb of Taipei 101 on Saturday, scaling the 1,667-foot skyscraper without ropes or protective equipment in just 1 hour and 35 minutes. The climb was live-streamed to Netflix’s hundreds of millions of international subscribers, making it one of the most-watched climbing events in history.

Honnold is the first climber to ascend Taipei 101 without a rope, solidifying his status as the world’s most daring climber nearly a decade after his legendary free solo of El Capitan was featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo.”

The Climb Details

Taipei 101 stretches 1,667 feet into the air and can be divided into three distinct sections. The bottom section features 372 vertical feet of sloped steel and glass, followed by eight “bamboo boxes” that sit on top of each other like a bamboo stalk. The final and most dangerous section includes three sections of repeated overhangs, a section of rings, and the spire.

Honnold reached the very top of the tower in 1 hour and 31 minutes and 40 seconds, less than the allocated two-hour time window created for the Netflix stream. Upon reaching the top, he took a selfie to document the accomplishment.

The climb featured several technical moments that had viewers holding their breath. At one point, Honnold hung on solely with his legs while letting his hands go, using the strong grip to rest his arms. When navigating the overhangs, he used a climbing technique called “canvassing,” where he let his feet hang and swung them up to get a foothold on the edge.

A Different Challenge Than Mountain Climbing

In a shift from the granite walls that made him famous, this was his most unpredictable challenge yet, with skyscrapers being steeper and more repetitive than most natural rock faces, and the movements taxing his body in a different way.

Before the climb, Honnold acknowledged the unique challenge. He said the difficulty comes from the overall physicality of the climb and the fatigue that sets in over the course of the building, which is harder to anticipate. He stated, “I don’t know how it’s gonna feel.”

2026 AFC Championship Game Is Here: Broncos vs. Patriots Battle for Super Bowl Spot!

The Pay and Motivation

When asked about compensation, Honnold said he would get paid “an embarrassingly small amount” likely in the mid-six figure range. He clarified that Netflix producers aren’t paying him to climb Taipei 101, they’re paying for the drama and the attention. “I’m not getting paid to climb the building. I’m getting paid for the spectacle. I’m climbing the building for free.”

Despite the modest payment, Honnold said, “I mean, I would do it for free.”

Weather Delay Pushed Climb Back 24 Hours

The climb was originally scheduled for Friday night, but Netflix announced a 24-hour delay due to weather concerns. Safety remained the top priority during the postponement.

Honnold’s Remarkable Career

Honnold grew up in Sacramento and is the only person on record to have free soloed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot rock monolith, a feat featured in the 2017 Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo”. His climbing career has since skyrocketed with speed records and famous 24-hour triple-solo climbs.

Honnold now lives in Las Vegas with his wife and two daughters.

What’s Next

In a surreal moment during the climb, Alex Honnold checked in with his wife Sanni at the 60th floor while free soloing. With Taipei 101 now conquered, the climbing world waits to see what challenge Honnold tackles next.

The “Skyscraper Live” event marks a new chapter in Honnold’s career, proving that at 39 years old, he continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in climbing, whether on natural rock faces or man-made steel and glass.