TAIPEI, 25 January 2026 — American climber Alex Honnold has successfully scaled Taipei 101, completing a 101-floor ascent without ropes, harnesses, or safety equipment in what is believed to be the largest urban free-solo climb ever attempted.
The 508-metre (1,667-foot) skyscraper, constructed from steel, glass and concrete and designed to resemble a stalk of bamboo, became the stage for Honnold’s most unpredictable challenge to date. The climb was originally scheduled earlier but was postponed due to wet weather conditions.
The ascent was streamed live globally on Netflix, which confirmed a broadcast delay mechanism was in place should a serious incident occur during the climb.
Honnold is best known for becoming the first person to free-solo El Capitan, the 915-metre granite monolith in Yosemite National Park. That ascent was chronicled in Free Solo, the Academy Award-winning documentary that brought his calm-under-pressure mindset into the global spotlight.
A Live Urban Ascent Watched Around the World
As Honnold progressed up the sheer vertical facade, Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim publicly congratulated him, writing that she “would probably feel sick, too, barely able to watch.”
At the summit, Honnold was greeted by his wife, who had followed the climb closely while worrying about shifting winds and heat exposure. Along the way, crowds gathered inside the building became an unexpected distraction. At the 89th floor, fans waved and cheered through the glass, just inches from the climber as he clung to the exterior.
Footage of the moment, shared by Honnold and Netflix on Instagram, showed him continuing undeterred.
“Why Not?”, Honnold on Choosing Taipei 101
In a Netflix interview ahead of the live event, Honnold explained why the building, and why now.
“Taipei 101 because it’s amazing and it’s an incredible building. It’s possible, which a lot of skyscrapers aren’t, it’s uniquely suited for climbing,” he said.
“It’s really hard to get permission to climb a building and I have permission, so I have to take advantage of it.”
Unlike natural rock faces, Honnold noted that skyscrapers are vertical the entire way, making the movement more repetitive but physically taxing.
“The mindset is basically the same. Climbing is climbing, and you’re doing your best to stay focused and not fall off,” he said.
“But it’s physically more taxing because you’re doing the same thing over and over, so your muscles get tired.”
The Most Demanding Section: The “Bamboo Boxes”
Honnold identified the most challenging portion of the climb as the middle section of the building, which climbers dubbed the “bamboo boxes.”
“There are eight overhanging segments in the middle of the building, eight floors each, so that’s 64 floors that are the most physically demanding,” he said.
“They overhang about 10 to 15 degrees and feel like repeated climbing pitches.”
Each section required sustained effort before reaching a balcony, compounding fatigue over time rather than hinging on a single high-risk move.
Managing Fear With Millions Watching
Despite the global audience, Honnold said the presence of cameras and viewers mattered far less than executing the climb safely.
“My life is on the line; I don’t really care who’s watching. I care about doing what I’m doing and doing it well,” he said.
“The camera guys are friends of mine, and it’s really positive having them around.”
On fear, Honnold described it as a physical sensation rather than something to be avoided.
“Fear feels like excitement or nervousness, a tingling energy. Just because you’re feeling something doesn’t mean it has to affect how you act.”
A Different Definition of Success
Now a husband and father, Honnold said his goals have evolved.
“I want to feel good while I do it. I want to smile and enjoy myself,” he said.
“My aspiration is to not injure myself and comport myself with dignity, cross the finish line with a smile.”
After completing the climb, Honnold said his celebration would be simple.
“I’ll take the elevator down, see my wife, eat at the buffet, it’s a really nice buffet, and that’ll be the day.”
Source: Netflix
