Alex Honnold reveals Skyscraper Live Taipei 101 climb is postponedYour support helps us to tell the story
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Alex Honnold has sensationally scaled one of the tallest skyscrapers on Earth without ropes or safety gear.
The American rock climber took one hour, 31 minutes and 43 seconds to complete the hair-raising stunt on Saturday evening. On Friday night, just minutes before Skyscraper Live was due to air on Netflix on Friday (January 23), it was announced that the special had been postponed due to wet weather conditions in Taipei.
Fans of 40-year-old Honnold tuned in to watch the professional rock climber take on Taipei 101, the 1,667-foot, 101-story tower that dominates the skyline of Taiwan’s capital.
Built in 2004, Taipei 101 features mostly glass curtain walls, with balconies near the top that taper to a pointed peak. It was once the world’s tallest building until the construction of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010.
Honnold is known for his record-breaking ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017, which was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary, Free Solo.
He has noted that Taipei 101 was previously climbed by French urban climber Alain Robert — but with ropes. Honnold believes that reaching the top unaided would make it “the biggest urban free solo ever.”
Follow along below for live updates on the climb
Honnold celebrates with his wife Sanni
After rappeling down from the spire, Alex Honnold celebrated with his wife Sanni McCandless, a life coach, writer and climber.
The 33-year-old met her future husband at a book signing in 2015. They now have two daughters together, June and Alice – and sent them their love from Taipei 101, albeit acknowledging that they were too young to be watching.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 03:34
Alex Honnold stands atop Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world, after his sensational free-climbing ascent.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 03:11
Netflix streamed the daredevil stunt live, culminating in the electrifying moment Alex Honnold reached the top of the 1,667ft Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:56
And now for the descent. To spare his energy – and our nerves – Alex Honnold is now strapping on a harness so that he can start rappeling down the building he has just scaled without so much as a rope.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:51
Standing atop one of the tallest buildings in the world after climbing up without any ropes or safety equipment, a calm Alex Honnold reaches for his phone and takes a triumphant selfie. Expect that picture to go around the world (once he’s got down again).
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:47
Alex Honnold reaches the top of Taipei 101 after an astonishing climb that took him one hour, 31 minutes and 43 seconds.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:44
‘He’s playing with our emotions at this point’
Gasps, shock – and then laughter – as Honnold pauses and leans back on one of the eight big metal rings that provide a sloping circumference below the spire. Honnond said these were one of his biggest concerns.
“He’s playing with our emotions at this point,” says presenter Elle Duncan.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:41
“You know what, I’m kind of tired.”
Honnold gives an understated quip as he continues to negotiate the overhangs ahead of him before reaching the spire at the top of the tower, which is now in sight just a few hundred feet away.
The wind is now visibly blowing his T-shirt.
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:35
A big round of applause and cheering as Honnold glides through his first overhang, a terrifying test of his upper body strength. He has several more to go now that he’s past the “bamboo boxes” that made up most of the climb so far.
Another dragon bested further down the tower (REUTERS)
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:31
Honnold is in good spirits as he sits for a quick rest: “I don’t know if you guys can hear me, I can’t hear you right now, perhaps I’ve climbed too high. But I’m so psyched.”
Making contact again with the team below he says: “I’m good, I’m tired for sure. … It’s tiring, it’s a big building. Honestly I’ve just been trying to pace myself.
“It’s quite windy … I’m just trying not to get buffeted and taking my time.”
He’s past the 89th floor and has the tower in his sights.
“I’ll try and pace myself and have a good time.”
Phil Thomas25 January 2026 02:26