Alex Honnold Takes on Taipei 101 in Historic Live Climb

January 23, 2026

Update: The event had to be postponed due to bad weather conditions. Netflix expects to broadcast exactly 24 hours later, 2:00 AM CET on January 25th.

Alex Honnold, the legendary free solo climber, will attempt one of the most daring feats ever staged on a skyscraper: a ropeless ascent of the Taipei 101. Rising 508 meters above Taiwan’s capital, the iconic tower is not only one of the tallest buildings in the world, but also a proud member of the World Federation of Great Towers. The climb, titled Skyscraper Live, will be streamed live worldwide on Netflix, marking the first time a free solo ascent of a skyscraper is broadcast in real time. Viewers across the globe will be able to follow every move as Alex Honnold tackles the steel and glass façade, with the broadcast airing at 2:00 AM CET on January 24 and running on a short ten second delay.

Famed for his ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, documented in the Oscar winning film Free Solo, Alex Honnold has been fascinated by Taipei 101 for more than a decade. Planning for the project began as early as 2012, when the idea was first explored as a potential National Geographic feature. Now, years later, the vision is becoming reality.

The Taipei 101 presents a unique and highly technical challenge. Its distinctive design, inspired by stacked bamboo segments, features eight overhanging sections that create complex transitions, limited handholds, and exposure to wind at extreme heights. Engineered to withstand powerful earthquakes and typhoons, the tower is a marvel of modern construction, but one that leaves no margin for error for a climber attempting it without ropes.

While Alex Honnold will not be the first person to climb the Taipei 101, he will be the first to do so free solo. In 2004, French climber Alain Robert scaled the tower during its opening celebrations, completing the climb in nearly four hours under difficult weather conditions. Honnold’s attempt raises the stakes even higher, combining extreme athleticism with the pressure of a live global audience.

As the Taipei 101 prepares to once again capture the world’s attention, this unprecedented event highlights the tower’s iconic status. Whether watched for sport, engineering, or sheer excitement, Skyscraper Live promises to be a historic moment high above the Taipei skyline.

World Federation of Great Towers

WFGT was founded in 1989 as a not-for-profit organization and showcases the great towers of the world, which have become symbols of their cities.