Most terrifying live stream of 2026: Internet holds breath as Alex Honnold climbs Taipei 101 without ropes

No Ropes, No Net, Live on Netflix: Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 Climb Has the Internet Holding Its Breath

On January 25, 2026, world-renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold etched a new chapter in the history of extreme adventure by free-soloing Taipei 101, the iconic 508-metre (1,667-foot) skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital, without any ropes, safety net or harness. The climb was broadcast live on Netflix’s Skyscraper Live, capturing global attention not only for its breathtaking physicality but also for what it represents in the evolution of how extreme sports are being experienced and shared in the digital age.This was not a spontaneous stunt, it was the culmination of years of planning, negotiation with authorities and careful orchestration to ensure both safety and spectacle. Taipei 101’s management and the Taipei city government sanctioned the event and supported the live broadcast, giving Honnold access like no urban free-solo ascent before.

A new frontier by Alex Honnold: Urban free solo meets streaming spectacle

Traditionally, free solo or climbing without protective equipment has been a discipline practiced on natural rock faces, far from city crowds and media lights. Honnold’s famous 2017 ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park was immortalised in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo for exactly that reason: a remote, raw expression of human capability and psychological discipline under immense risk. However, Taipei 101 represents a different beast entirely with an engineered, glass-and-steel monolith nestled in a thriving metropolis. By bringing free solo into the urban environment, the event blurred the line between adventure sport and media spectacle. Honnold completed the climb in approximately 1 hour 31 minutes using only his hands and feet, stepping on architectural outcroppings and balconies as he ascended.That the climb was streamed live to a global audience, with applause erupting from crowds gathered below, marks a shift in how feats once confined to niche circles are now broadcast as shared cultural moments. This was not a climbing competition; it was a primetime event where tens of thousands watched in real time as a human being conquered gravity on the edge of a skyscraper. Honnold’s successful ascent did more than entertain. It put Taiwan and Taipei 101 in a global spotlight for reasons beyond technology and finance, areas usually dominant in international coverage. Taiwan’s president publicly praised Honnold for showcasing “the beauty of Taipei and Taiwan,” highlighting how such events can contribute to city branding and tourism interest.Moreover, the live broadcast on a major global streaming platform reflects a broader shift in sports media economics. A relatively niche niche discipline like free solo climbing gaining prime-time digital exposure signals how content platforms are experimenting with real-time adventure content to attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly crowded streaming market.

Public debate on Alex Honnold’s free solo and social media reaction

While cheers greeted Honnold’s achievement, the climb also sparked ethical and safety debates. Some viewers questioned the wisdom of broadcasting such a high-risk act live, with critics noting that turning extreme risk into entertainment can unintentionally encourage imitation or downplay the real dangers involved. These concerns echo broader discussions about responsibility in live event broadcasting, especially when human lives hang in the balance.

Supporters point out that Honnold is widely recognised as the greatest free soloist of his generation, someone who has trained rigorously for decades and understands his limits deeply. They argue that the Skyscraper Live ascent wasn’t reckless but a carefully managed demonstration of professional skill and that the live format brought the freedom and danger of climbing into living rooms worldwide in an unprecedented way.This dual narrative, awe vs ethical scrutiny, mirrors earlier debates in other extreme live broadcasts, such as big-wave surfing events or freefall wingsuit competitions. What is new here is the urban context of a building located in the heart of a capital city, surrounded by spectators and streamed to millions, raising questions about how far entertainment should push boundaries.

This is not just another documentary or replay, it is a moment where live human performance meets global digital reach and it may well influence how other extreme athletic events are covered in the future. Social media erupted within minutes of Alex Honnold beginning his ropeless ascent of Taipei 101, with viewers across platforms describing the climb as “stress-inducing”, “unwatchable in the best way,” and “the most terrifying live stream ever.”Clips and screenshots circulated rapidly on X, Instagram and TikTok, where users admitted to physically looking away from their screens as Honnold edged across narrow ledges hundreds of metres above the ground. Many praised the climber’s composure and mental discipline, calling him “inhumanly calm” and “built differently” while others questioned the ethics of turning such extreme risk into live entertainment, asking whether platforms should broadcast feats where a single mistake could be fatal. The live format amplified the reaction, with hashtags related to Honnold and Taipei 101 trending as audiences collectively held their breath, turning the climb into a shared global moment that blurred admiration, anxiety and debate in equal measure. While one user on X tweeted, “what’s up with all the yappers . It’s kind of ruining the whole thing, the constant unnecessary talking. Why can’t I zen out with Alex Honnold in peace woth the moment ? (sic)”, another shared, “Alex Honnold is one of the craziest white boys all of time (sic)” and yet another gasped, “Alex Honnold is a dawg but the Camera Guy on the wire is also a nuclear weapon (sic).”

Alex Honnold’s personal triumph and legacy

For Honnold himself, this climb is both a personal milestone and a continuation of a remarkable career. He has climbed since childhood and gained fame through feats like his El Capitan free solo, pushing the boundaries of what’s perceived as possible in climbing. At the Taipei 101 summit, Honnold’s mixture of calm celebration and commentary on wind and view highlighted how mental discipline and technical mastery underpin such achievements, not just physical strength. His wife’s reaction, relief and pride, also humanises the spectacle, reminding audiences that behind every record and broadcast is a person with family and relationships impacted by the risks involved. Honnold’s free-solo ascent of Taipei 101 is likely to be remembered not just as a climbing milestone but as a cultural touchstone. It renewed global interest in urban free soloing, taking a discipline rooted in nature and placing it against a skyline backdrop.It pushed broadcasters and streamers to explore live extreme events that blur documentary and live TV, sparked dialogue about ethical boundaries in televised risk and expanded the narrative of human achievement into the built environment, celebrating both natural and engineered landmarks. In an era where audiences crave both authenticity and spectacle, Alex Honnold’s ropeless ascent of Taipei 101 stands as a testament to the power of human ambition and how that ambition plays out on the global stage. Go to Source