Skyscraper Live (Start Time & How to Watch)

How to Watch Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Live on Netflix

Skyscraper Live is a high-stakes Netflix live event where world-famous free solo climber Alex Honnold attempts to climb Taipei 101 in Taiwan in real time. If you’re here for the basics—start time, where to stream, and what to expect—this guide has you covered.

  • Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
  • Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
  • Where to watch: Netflix (live stream)
  • Planned runtime: ~2 hours

Watch the Official Trailer (YouTube)

The trailer gives a quick feel for the format: no ropes, no edits, no do-overs—just a live climb on a skyscraper designed for offices and observation decks, not for hands and climbing shoes.

Skyscraper Live Start Time (All Major Time Zones)

Region Local Time Local Date
Pacific (PT) 5:00 p.m. Fri, Jan 23, 2026
Mountain (MT) 6:00 p.m. Fri, Jan 23, 2026
Central (CT) 7:00 p.m. Fri, Jan 23, 2026
Eastern (ET) 8:00 p.m. Fri, Jan 23, 2026
UK (GMT) 1:00 a.m. Sat, Jan 24, 2026
Europe (CET) 2:00 a.m. Sat, Jan 24, 2026
Taiwan (Taipei, UTC+8) 9:00 a.m. Sat, Jan 24, 2026

How to Watch Skyscraper Live (Streaming on Netflix)

Skyscraper Live streams on Netflix. At showtime, open Netflix on your TV, phone, tablet, or web browser and search for “Skyscraper Live”. The live event page usually shows a “Remind Me” or “Watch Live” option near the start time.

  • TV: Smart TV Netflix app (or streaming stick/box with Netflix)
  • Mobile: Netflix app on iOS/Android
  • Computer: Netflix in a web browser

Since this is a live stream, it’s worth starting Netflix a few minutes early and confirming you’re signed in on the device you plan to watch on.

Who’s On the Broadcast Team?

Netflix has promoted a studio-style broadcast with a host and commentators/analysts alongside the live climb—so you’re not just watching a tiny figure on a building. Expect play-by-play context, safety/engineering talk, and climbing-specific insight.

Instagram: Alex Honnold’s Post About the Climb

If you’re trying to understand the vibe of the event, his own social posts are useful: they tend to highlight the goal, the scale of the building, and why this project has been on his mind for years.

What Makes Taipei 101 Such a Big Deal?

Taipei 101 is one of the world’s most recognizable skyscrapers, and its scale is the point: 101 floors and roughly 1,667 feet (508 meters). That height changes everything—fatigue, exposure, wind, and the mental challenge of staying locked in for a long time.

The twist is that the surface is man-made (glass/steel/concrete features) rather than natural rock, so the movement can be repetitive and physically draining in a different way than a traditional big-wall climb.

What Reddit Is Saying About Skyscraper Live

Reddit chatter around the event tends to split into two camps:

  • The “this is historic” camp: People treat it like a once-only, appointment-viewing sports moment—closer to a championship event than a documentary.
  • The “should this be live?” camp: Some users question the ethics of turning a no-ropes climb into mainstream live entertainment, especially because the risk is part of the hook.

Reddit Comparisons: Don’t Confuse This With the Older “Skyscraper Live”

One source of confusion: “Skyscraper Live” has also been used as the title for a different live special in the past (the Nik Wallenda Chicago highwire event that aired in 2014). If you’re looking for the Netflix stream, make sure you’re on the Alex Honnold / Taipei 101 listing.

Related Content to Watch After Skyscraper Live

If the live event turns you into an instant climbing-and-heights fan, here are a few solid follow-ups to search on Netflix:

  • 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
  • Race to the Summit
  • Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive
  • Skywalkers: A Love Story

FAQ

Is Skyscraper Live free to watch?

It streams on Netflix, so you’ll need an active Netflix subscription on the day of the event.

Will there be a replay?

Some Netflix live events become available to rewatch afterward, but availability can vary. The safest move is to watch live if you can, then check the title page after the broadcast.

Is this the same thing as “Free Solo”?

No—Free Solo is a documentary film about Honnold’s El Capitan climb. Skyscraper Live is a separate, real-time live event.