Alex Honnold has officially taken free soloing to new heights—literally.

In a heart-stopping feat broadcast globally, the world-renowned climber ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without ropes, harnesses, or safety nets. Known best for his granite ascents in Yosemite, Honnold traded rock for glass and steel to complete what is being called the highest urban free solo in history.

The Climb at a Glance

  • Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026 (Delayed one day due to rain)
  • Location: Taipei 101, Taiwan (508 meters / 1,667 feet)
  • Time to Summit: Approx. 1 hour, 31 minutes
  • Method: Free Solo (No ropes, no protective gear)
  • Broadcast: "Skyscraper Live" on Netflix

Scaling the "Bamboo Boxes"

The climb was far from a simple ladder ascent. Taipei 101 is architecturally distinct, designed to resemble a stalk of bamboo. This meant Honnold had to navigate:

  • The "Bamboo Boxes": A grueling middle section of 64 floors requiring repetitive, high-endurance movements.
  • Overhangs: Navigating the deep re-entrants and protruding ornamental dragons at the corners of the building.
  • Wind & Weather: While the climb was delayed for safety on Saturday, high winds at the summit still posed a significant risk as he balanced on the final spire.
"It was like, what a view, it's incredible... It was very windy, so I was like, 'don't fall off the spire.' I was trying to balance nicely."
— Alex Honnold, upon reaching the summit

Watch the Highlights

If you missed the live stream, you can catch the key moments of the ascent below.

Alex Honnold completes the historic climb (Source: Netflix)

A Different Kind of Challenge

Unlike El Capitan, where the challenge lies in microscopic holds and complex problem-solving, urban climbing presents a test of extreme endurance and consistency. The surfaces are slicker, the holds are industrial, and the consequences of a slip remain fatal.

Honnold isn't the first to climb Taipei 101—French climber Alain Robert ("The French Spiderman") ascended it in 2004—but Honnold is the first to do so entirely without safety tethers, cementing his legacy as one of the boldest athletes of our time.