Alex Honnold, renowned for his breathtaking climbing feats, is set to attempt a daring new challenge. On January 23, 2026, Honnold will undertake a free solo climb of Taipei 101, a towering structure standing at 1,667 feet and encompassing 101 stories in Taiwan. This ambitious endeavor will be broadcast live on Netflix during a special titled Skyscraper Live.
The event marks Honnold’s first attempt to scale a skyscraper, a significant shift from his previous climbs of natural rock formations. Honnold gained international fame in 2018 with the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, which showcased his historic ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes or safety equipment. The documentary’s directors, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, captured the intense focus and skill required for such a feat, as they documented a moment that raised both awe and concern for Honnold’s safety.
In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, Honnold reflected on the unique challenges posed by climbing a man-made structure. “I’ve climbed tons of huge walls in the world but never something man-made like that,” he stated. He emphasized the difficulties posed by the verticality of buildings, noting, “Buildings are steeper than most rock faces,” adding an exciting layer of complexity to his upcoming climb.
How to Watch Skyscraper Live
The live broadcast of Skyscraper Live will air on Netflix at 5 p.m. Pacific Time / 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Viewers will need a Netflix subscription to access the livestream. Netflix offers several subscription plans, beginning at $7.99/month for the standard plan with ads, up to $24.99/month for unlimited ad-free streaming in up to 4K UHD quality.
Netflix is promoting the event as a thrilling two-hour broadcast, which adds urgency to Honnold’s climb. The live nature of the event promises to engage audiences worldwide, showcasing not just Honnold’s athletic prowess, but also the dramatic and often perilous world of free solo climbing.
As excitement builds for this unique spectacle, viewers will witness Honnold push the limits of human capability once again. The combination of his remarkable skill and the striking backdrop of Taipei 101 is sure to make for a memorable event.
