World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26

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On January 10, 2026, the world’s top cross country athletes will gather in World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 at Apalachee Regional Park. This marks the event’s first return to the United States in more than 30 years and offers a rare opportunity to witness a global competition right here in Florida’s capital.

Leon County will welcome athletes and spectators from around the world for a celebration of endurance, community, and international spirit. In honor of this once-in-a-generation event, the Leon County Public Library invites you to explore stories that inspire movement — whether through running, healthy living, or the journeys of athletes past and present.

Discover library resources for all ages about exercise, nutrition, and the power of perseverance. Attend an event, visit an exhibit showcasing our unique community, pick up a limited-edition library card, and be a part of the excitement leading up to WXC Tallahassee 26.

Learn more about the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 at VisitTallahassee.com/WXC26.

Call for Artists: All Trails Lead to Leon County

In celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, the Leon County Public Library is inviting residents of all ages to contribute their creativity to the upcoming exhibition All Trails Lead to Leon County.

On display at the Leon County Main Library from December 2, 2025, through January 11, 2026, the exhibition will feature local artwork inspired by running, trails, and the natural beauty of our region. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 14, at 5 p.m. EST.

Need help applying? Assistance is available at any Leon County Public Library location.

Submit Your Art

Limited Edition Library Card

Colorful World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 displayed on a nature-based background.

Celebrate WXC Tallahassee 26 with a specially designed limited-edition Leon County Public Library card — available while supplies last! This commemorative card not only unlocks a world of knowledge and resources but also serves as a treasured memento of this historic occasion.

New and current library card holders can receive the WXC Tallahassee 26 card at no cost by visiting any Leon County Public Library location.

Events

Ready, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Fort Braden Branch
December 5, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Jane G. Sauls Fort Braden Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Ready, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Woodville Branch
December 6, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Woodville Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
All Roads Lead to Leon County Exhibition Opening
December 6, 1 to 2 p.m.

Audience: all Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:

Celebrate the opening of All Trails Lead to Leon County, an art exhibition featuring works by local artists inspired by running, nature, and community spirit in honor of the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Ready, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Lake Jackson Branch
December 10, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Lake Jackson Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Ready, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Main Library
December 11, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Ready, Set, Read! Family Story Time @ Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch
December 13, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages birth to five and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Read, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Eastside Branch
December 17, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Eastside Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Ready, Set, Read! Preschool Story Time (Ages 3-6) @ Northeast Branch
December 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Audience: kids Location:
Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library
Description:

Ready, Set, Read! Join us for a special Story Time in celebration of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, filled with energetic songs, playful rhymes, and fast-paced stories that will get your little ones moving! Designed for children ages three to six and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome to join the fun!
No more events.

Exhibits

All Trails Lead to Leon County
December 2 to January 11

Audience: all Location:
Leon County Main Library
Description:

Celebrate the upcoming World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 with All Trails Lead to Leon County, an art exhibition on display at the Leon County Main Library from December 2, 2025, through January 11, 2026.

The exhibition features works by local artists inspired by running, trails, and the natural beauty of Leon County, the Capital of Cross Country. On January 10, 2026, Leon County will host the world’s top cross country athletes for the 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park. This marks the event’s first return to the United States in more than 30 years and offers a rare opportunity to witness a global competition right here in Florida’s capital county.
No more events.

Resources

Explore curated reading lists for all ages:

Junior Nonfiction – Fitness, healthy habits, and inspiring real-life stories
Junior Fiction – Fun, active stories that to motivate and move you
Young Adult and Adult Fiction – Novels centered on running, resilience, and growth
Adult Nonfiction – Memoirs, biographies, and health-focused reads

Want to stay active while reading? Listen to an audiobook during your walk or workout using Libby.

View the Catalog

World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26

WXC Tallahassee 26

Celebrate endurance and community with themed story times, a trail-inspired art exhibition, and a limited-edition library card.