Risk, Weather, and a Live Clock: Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 “Skyscraper Live” and When It Starts

Alex Honnold’s planned rope-free climb of Taipei 101 has turned into a real-time test of two things that can’t be negotiated: grip and conditions. The live Netflix special, billed as “Skyscraper Live,” was pushed back after rain made the building’s exterior too risky for a no-rope ascent. That delay matters because the entire premise is immediacy—an elite climber, a 508-meter skyscraper, and an audience watching the margin for error in real time. The start time has shifted, and so has the conversation around safety.

A live free-solo on glass and steel is a different kind of danger

Honnold’s reputation was built on controlled environments that still look impossible—natural rock faces where he’s spent years learning every sequence, texture, and micro-rest. A supertall skyscraper introduces a different problem set: slick surfaces after rain, wind shear at height, and long stretches where the “holds” are architectural features rather than rock.

That’s why the postponement is the headline, not the hype. A wet exterior can turn “difficult” into “unclimbable” when there’s no rope, no protective gear, and no second attempt mid-move. Netflix has also indicated the livestream is not a pure zero-delay feed, using a broadcast delay and viewer advisories—an acknowledgement that this is entertainment built on real risk, not a rehearsed stunt.

The climb has also sparked unease within parts of the climbing world for a simpler reason: a globally promoted, high-stakes free solo can create copycat pressure. Honnold’s skill is not transferable by inspiration alone, and the building isn’t a playground. If anything, the most responsible message attached to the event is the one implied by the weather delay: conditions can veto courage.

When is “Skyscraper Live,” and how to watch Honnold on Taipei 101

Current scheduled livestream time:

• Saturday, January 24, 2026 — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

• Sunday, January 25, 2026 — 9:00 a.m. in Taipei

• Sunday, January 25, 2026 — 3:00 a.m. in Cairo

The event streams on Netflix as a live special for subscribers. If you don’t see it immediately at the scheduled time, it may appear under live programming rows, event banners, or the title “Skyscraper Live” in search—especially if your profile is set to a different content language.

Taipei weather and why it’s driving the schedule

Taipei’s forecast explains the reshuffle. The city is dealing with showers around Saturday, January 24, followed by a clearer, more pleasant window on Sunday, January 25, before wetter conditions return early next week. For a climb that depends on friction and predictable footing, that Sunday window is the difference between “possible” and “no.”

A quick timeline of the week so far

• Friday, January 23: The live climb is positioned as a major Netflix event tied to Honnold’s first high-profile manmade-structure free solo.

• Saturday, January 24 (Taipei): Rain prompts a 24-hour delay for safety.

• Saturday, January 24 (U.S.): The new U.S. primetime slot is confirmed for 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

• Sunday, January 25 (Taipei): The climb is now set for morning local time, aligning with improved conditions.

• If weather shifts again: The production has signaled flexibility—meaning another delay remains possible if surfaces stay wet or winds spike.

“Free Solo,” Netflix, and the search spike

A lot of searches are colliding right now—“Free Solo,” “Netflix,” “Taipei 101,” and “live climb.” “Free Solo” is the documentary that made Honnold’s name mainstream, and “Skyscraper Live” is a separate, time-specific event. Availability of older titles varies by country and licensing, so “Free Solo” may show up on different services depending on where you watch; “Skyscraper Live” is the one tied to this weekend’s start time.

One more thing people are asking: “UFC tomorrow”

If your feed is also showing “UFC tomorrow,” it’s likely because Saturday, January 24, 2026 is a busy live-event night. A major UFC card is scheduled for January 24 in Las Vegas, with the main card slated for 9:00 p.m. ET—roughly an hour after Honnold’s livestream is scheduled to begin. If you’re trying to watch both, the overlap is real.

Honnold’s climb is being sold as spectacle, but it’s unfolding like an operations problem: weather windows, risk management, and a live audience that can’t be allowed to forget what “no rope” truly means.