Vertical Life Summer 2026

Every season, I tell you that the next issue of Vertical Life is bigger and better than the last. This time, I can actually back it up! We’ve gone from 84 to 100 pages, upgraded our paper stock to something a little more luxurious and completely reimagined the magazine’s layout. It’s been a big season behind the scenes, and I’m pretty excited for you to see what we’ve been working on. But the real magic is what’s inside, with a stack of stories that will have you frothing to get outdoors and onto some rock.

This season, some big names have landed on Australian shores. The Wide Boyz made a stealth mission into the Blue Mountains, where Jac Beaudoin showed them his epic roof crack in the Garden of Stones. Ice climbing legend Will Gadd got a taste of Australia’s frozen offerings, while Tommy Hutchinson takes on some of Mike Law’s classic sandbags at Mt Piddington. Further west, Joe Hodgson explores the granite boulders of Western Australia’s spectacular Cape to Cape region.

Beyond Australia, we head to an Icelandic glacier for some highlining and follow Oliver Tippet as he pushes the limits of speed climbing on El Capitan.

Back home, we’re celebrating the people and events shaping our climbing community. We chat with routesetting legends Carlie LeBreton and Jack Masel about the creative process behind setting new lines, the thought that goes into shaping a problem and how setters challenge climbers to move in new ways. Blue Mountains Climbing School takes on the infamous 5 in 10 challenge, tackling six of the Blue Mountains’ most popular commercially guided canyons in just 10 hours. Tom from The Hangout returns with the latest instalment of Rock News, keeping you across what’s happening in the climbing scene.

And, of course, there’s plenty more to get stuck into, with gear beta, reviews and crag cooking inspiration to fuel your next adventure.

More pages, a fresh new look and a whole lot of climbing. Your Summer 2026 issue of Vertical Life is one you won’t want to miss.