In this review, we describe the recent advances in the chemistry of helical polymers and oligomers con- taining acetylene units in the main chain. Owing to their great benefits such as high availability and han- dleability, good reactivity, rigidity, linearity, and low bulkiness, acetylene units have been utilized and incorporated in helical folding oligomers and polymers such as oligo- and poly(m-phenylene ethyny- lene)s. General synthetic methods as well as the structures, functions, and properties of acetylene-based helical oligomers and polymers are discussed by focusing on recent examples from 2009 to 2017.