For 92 minutes on a clear Sunday morning in Taipei, thousands of spectators craned their necks as Alex Honnold undertook a feat never before attempted. At 10.43am local time, he reached the tip of the spire atop Taipei 101, 508 metres above ground, smiling and waving to the crowd below.
Alex Honnold’s selfie from the top of Taipei 101 after his historic free solo. #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/utODFAzzbX
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026
Honnold became the first known climber to free solo the skyscraper, ascending without ropes, harnesses or safety nets, relying solely on his hands, feet and a chalk bag. The climb was broadcast live worldwide by Netflix, turning the ascent into a global event.
“This is why I do it”
Speaking after the climb, Honnold said the experience exceeded years of preparation and imagination. The presence of a large crowd, he noted, initially intensified the pressure, but calm returned as the climb progressed. By the upper sections, he said, the experience felt familiar and enjoyable.
The urban skyline
Now 40, Honnold has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of elite climbing. He became internationally known in 2017 after free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a climb documented in the Academy Award-winning film Free Solo. Since then, he has continued to push boundaries, though he described the Taipei ascent as the largest urban free solo ever attempted.
Although he had considered climbing Taipei 101 for more than a decade, the opportunity only materialised recently through the live broadcast project.
Weather, structure and focus
The climb was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to poor weather. Conditions improved on Sunday, with clear skies and light winds allowing the ascent to proceed.
Unlike natural rock faces, Taipei 101 offered metal beams, ledges and platforms rather than sheer glass. Honnold said the main challenge was psychological rather than technical, particularly near the top, where sections became more complex. At several points, he paused on balconies to rest and acknowledge spectators.
Inside the building, his wife, Sanni McCandless, watched as he climbed past her floor, later joking that she spent the ascent battling panic.
A landmark moment for Taipei
When it opened in 2004, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world, a title it held until the completion of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. While no longer the world’s tallest, it remains the tallest building in Taipei and a defining feature of the city’s skyline.
French climber Alain Robert previously climbed the building in 2004 using ropes, during its official opening, under far harsher weather conditions.
Reactions and aftermath
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, congratulated Honnold on what he described as a nerve-wracking achievement, expressing hope that the event would showcase Taiwan’s people and landscapes to a global audience.
Honnold said he hoped the climb would inspire others to pursue their own challenges. Reflecting on the moment at the summit, he summed it up in characteristically understated fashion: it was a great climb, on a very good day.
Source: CNN