Octakis(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenylene ethanol solvate, C₄₄H₄₀N₁₆C₂H₆O, has two independent centrosymmetric molecules, one of which is hydrogen bonded to the solvent molecule. One molecule adopts an arrangement with three arms up and one down in each benzene ring, whilst the other molecule has a conformation with two adjacent arms on the same side of the ring. In neither case is the expected fully alternating form observed.