American climber Alex Honnold achieved an extraordinary milestone in January 2026 by scaling Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world, without ropes or safety equipment in a live broadcast event organised by Netflix. The feat — part of Netflix’s Skyscraper Live special — drew millions of viewers and renewed global interest in extreme climbing and human endurance.
The 40-year-old rock climber completed the 1,667-foot ascent, climbing all 101 floors plus the 70-metre spire of the iconic Taiwan skyscraper. He undertook the challenge in 91 minutes, using only handholds and small architectural features on the building’s exterior. Thousands watched from the streets below and millions tuned in online as Honnold reached the top spire and celebrated with a wave and even a selfie.
Honnold’s climb had been postponed briefly due to poor weather, but once conditions improved, he began his ascent early in the morning local time before the live broadcast. The event attracted both awe and concern from the public and media. Some applauded his skill and nerve, while others questioned the risks of airing such a dangerous stunt live.
This climb marked Honnold’s first major free-solo attempt on a man-made structure, contrasting with his previous feats on natural rock walls, most famously his 2017 free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo.
Ahead of the event, Honnold spoke with media about the unique challenges of climbing a building rather than a rock face. He noted the structure’s architectural quirks — such as overhangs and horizontal modules — which would test strength and endurance. Despite the danger, he expressed excitement about the climb, saying he would undertake it even without the spectacle of a broadcast.
ALEX HONNOLD AFTER COMPLETING HIS FREE SOLO OF TAIPEI 101: "Sick."
The 101 story climb took 1 hour and 35 minutes #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/TIzeRqiUcM
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026
Regarding compensation, Honnold admitted he was being paid for the spectacle and broadcast rights, not for the physical act of climbing itself. He described the amount as “an embarrassing amount” compared with major sports salaries and said he would have climbed the building for free if given permission.
The success of this historic ascent not only showcased Honnold’s remarkable abilities but also demonstrated the growing fascination with extreme live events in the streaming era. Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building, now stands as the site of one of the boldest urban free-solo ascents in history.
