Alex Honnold, the world-famous American rock climber, is making headlines once again. On January 23, 2026, he will attempt a daring free solo climb of Taipei 101 in Taiwan—without ropes or safety equipment. The event, called Skyscraper Live, will be streamed globally on Netflix at 8 p.m. (ET). Honnold, known for his historic El Capitan climb, will celebrate the achievement with his supportive wife, Sanni McCandless Honnold, after the climb.
Why Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 Climb Is Special
Alex Honnold is a free solo climber, meaning he climbs without ropes or protective gear. This makes his upcoming ascent of Taipei 101 both thrilling and dangerous. Standing at 1,667 feet with 101 floors, the skyscraper is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Netflix is streaming the event live, allowing viewers to watch in real time as Honnold takes on the building.
Honnold said about the climb: “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.”
How Alex Honnold Met Sanni McCandless
Alex and Sanni first crossed paths during his 2015 book tour for Alone on the Wall. Their connection became public after the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo in 2018, which followed Honnold’s famous El Capitan ascent. The couple started dating soon after and married in 2020, sharing a close and supportive partnership throughout Alex’s climbing career.
Honnold told Netflix Tudum about his plans after the Taipei climb:
“I’ll take the elevator down, I’ll see my wife, we’ll be psyched. We’ll eat at the buffet that night—it’ll be great, and then I’ll go home and get back to climbing practice.”
Who is Sanni McCandless Honnold?
Sanni is a climber, life coach, and co-founder of Outwild, a community for people who want to create outdoor, value-driven lifestyles. She often shares her love of climbing on social media and actively participates in outdoor adventures herself. Her understanding of Alex’s passion has made their partnership stronger over the years.
Alex and Sanni Honnold’s Family
The couple are proud parents of two daughters. Their first child, June, was born in 2022, followed by Alice in 2024. Despite their busy professional lives, Alex and Sanni prioritize family and balance their climbing careers with parenting.
Alex Honnold’s Thoughts on the Taipei Climb
In an interview with Tudum, Alex shared his excitement and nervousness about climbing a man-made structure: “I think the thing that’s most uncertain to me is the psychological state—how it’s going to feel? I’ve spent 30 years climbing rock faces; this will be my first big man-made structure, so I’m sure it’ll feel a little different. It’s not just extreme sports—it’s more.”
This climb marks a new milestone for Honnold and is sure to thrill fans worldwide.
