Alex Honnold Shocks Viewers After Free-Climbing Taipei 101 Live on Netflix
Alex Honnold pulled off another jaw-dropping climb on Sunday when he scaled Taipei 101 without ropes or safety gear. The 1,667-foot skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital became the stage for a live Netflix event that left both fans and critics watching closely.
The climb lasted about an hour and a half. As Honnold reached the very top of the tower, people watching from the street below broke into cheers. He stood on the spire, waved his arms above his head, and took in the view.
Speaking after the climb during the Netflix broadcast, he described the moment in simple terms. It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day, he said. He also admitted the final stretch was tense. It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely.
Honnold climbed up one corner of the building, using small metal edges and narrow ledges meant for design, not climbing. At several points, he had to work his way around large decorative structures that stick out from the tower. He relied only on his hands and feet, carefully pulling himself upward.
Taipei 101 is known for its stacked design, often called “bamboo boxes.” The toughest section came in the middle of the climb, where long overhanging stretches forced Honnold to push through before reaching balcony areas. These balconies gave him brief chances to stop and reset before continuing upward.
American rock climber Alex Honnold climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without any ropes or protective equipment in a free solo climb broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. Read more here: https://t.co/Mzuzyb3NEq pic.twitter.com/oDBZR0mO2R
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 25, 2026
The entire ascent was shown live on Netflix with a short delay. According to the stream, the event had been planned for the day before but was postponed because of rain. The project was part of Netflix’s live special titled Skyscraper Live, marking a rare moment where such a dangerous climb was broadcast in real time.
Honnold said the crowd below made the experience different from his usual climbs, which often happen far from cities. When I was leaving the ground, you’re like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching, he said during the broadcast. But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. It makes the whole experience feel almost more festive.
The climb also sparked debate online and among viewers about whether such extreme risks should be shown live. While other climbers have scaled Taipei 101 before, Netflix and local media noted that Honnold is the first person to do it completely without ropes. French climber Alain Robert famously climbed the building in 2004, but he used safety equipment.
Honnold rose to global fame after his ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite, which was documented in the Oscar-winning film Free Solo. According to National Geographic and Netflix, he continues to balance climbing with family life in Las Vegas, where he lives with his wife, Sanni McCandless, and their two daughters.
Beyond climbing, Honnold also runs the Honnold Foundation, which supports solar energy projects in underserved communities. He is currently filming a new project for National Geographic, The Devil’s Climb, following another extreme expedition with fellow climber Tommy Caldwell. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also acknowledged the event, according to local news, saying the climb helped bring global attention to Taiwan.
This climb shows how far live entertainment is pushing limits. It was exciting, but also hard to watch at times because the risk was so clear. Some people see it as inspiring, others see it as too dangerous. What do you think about Alex Honnold free-climbing a skyscraper live on Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments.