The Alba Truffle Fair Guide 2026: Tickets, Prices, & Dates
The Alba Truffle Fair 2026 takes place from 10th Oct to 6th Dec. Tickets cost €5.25.
Each autumn, an elusive fungus draws gourmets, travellers, and dreamers to Alba—the medieval town at the heart of the Langhe—for the International Alba White Truffle Fair, which attracts over 600,000 visitors annually.
In 2026, the fair takes place from 10th October to 6th December, and invites visitors to explore both the truffle’s unique flavour and the culture, landscape, and traditions that sustain it.
If you’re planning to visit the Alba Truffle Fair in 2026, it’s essential to plan and book in advance. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to start planning your trip.
Visiting Alba this autumn? Check out this 3-day itinerary for truffles, wine, and fine dining.
The Alba Truffle Fair 2026: Dates, Tickets, & Prices
The World Truffle Market will take place every weekend between 10th October and 6th December 2026 at the Cortile della Maddalena in Alba.
Tickets usually sell out, so booking in advance will help avoid disappointment. General admission costs €5 online (+ admin fees) or €6 offline.
Wine lovers should add the wine tasting coupon for an extra €9 online or €10 offline, which includes two glasses of wine from the official tasting stand.
A Brief History of the Alba Truffle Fair
The fair dates back to 1929, when Giacomo Morra sought to bring attention to the region’s truffles by showcasing them at the local harvest festival, and in 1933, the official Truffle Fair was inaugurated.
(Fun fact: Although many believe the Alba truffle fair is Piedmont's oldest food festival, that title is held by the Fat Ox Fair at Carrù, which began in 1910.)
Alongside truffles, the fair preserves Alba’s medieval history through folk celebrations and reenactments, like the Palio degli Asini, the Investiture of the Podestà, and the Bacchanal of the Boroughs—where food, wine, and music flow, and sbandieratori (flag-throwers) add a flourish of colour and acrobatic artistry.
What’s So Special About White Truffles?
Well, it's the flavour, of course. While Martha Stewart describes the aroma as “oak, nuts, and sweet soil”, I find it more like a pungent musk with a strong garlicky smell and underlying tones of earth and mushrooms—but you'll have to visit and decide for yourself.
This humble tuber was valued between €3,500 and €4,000 per kilo in 2025—compared to €800-€1,500 for black truffles or €400-€700 for summer truffles.
The hefty price tag is due to its rarity: white truffles grow wild (and can’t be cultivated), have a short growing season (October to January), and require specific growing conditions and the right type of host trees—that just happen to be found in the hills around Alba.
What to Do at the Alba Truffle Fair
The fair’s centrepiece is the Alba White Truffle World Market, where local trifulau showcase the season’s finds. But the fair celebrates Piedmontese cuisine in all its forms—from truffle-infused cheeses, pastas, and salami—as well as wine, hazelnut products, and local sweet specialities like torrone.
Truffle hunters and their families display their wares in the centre of the market and are eager to let you inhale the heady aromas. You'll also find the judges here, who will inspect any purchases you make to ensure they fit strict quality criteria.
The best thing to do is wander around taking it all in while sipping on a glass of wine—a wine-tasting coupon gets you a wine glass, complete with a handy wine carrier to hang round your neck for hands-free drinking.
Visiting Piedmont this November? Get to know the region's harvest festivals and events.
Gastronomic Experiences at the Alba Truffle Fair
Throughout the truffle fair, a variety of gastronomic experiences will be taking place. These include cooking shows, cooking classes, and Piedmontese pasta making.
Wine lovers can dive deep into Barolo, Barbaresco, and the diverse expressions of Nebbiolo with wine tasting experiences, while the truffle-curious can attend a truffle sensory analysis.
Art, Music, and Sport at the Alba Truffle Fair
The attractions don’t stop at food and wine, though. Art and music lovers can enjoy a range of exhibitions and concerts, while fitness enthusiasts (and those wanting to burn off all that wine and pasta) can participate in races.
Alba Truffle Fair for Kids
If you’re bringing little ones, you can drop them off at Alba Truffle Kids instead of dragging them to w̶h̶i̶n̶e̶ wine tastings.
Shifts run from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until Nov 23rd, and cost €5.
How to Plan Your Trip Around Truffle Season in Piedmont
Piedmont is a large and varied region, with plenty to explore before or after your visit to Alba—from city breaks and vineyard tours to Alpine lakes, hiking trails, and restorative wellness stays.
October and November are peak season in and around Alba, so it’s wise to book tickets, accommodation, and experiences well in advance.
To reduce the environmental impact of your trip—and avoid the busiest areas—consider saving the Langhe wine hills for another time and exploring a lesser-known corner of the region instead, such as Alta Langa, Val di Susa, or Canavese.
Is the Alba Truffle Fair Worth Visiting?
Whether you're a full-time foodie or simply truffle-curious, the Alba Truffle Fair is well worth visiting—but the market itself is only part of the experience.
Throughout the autumn months, restaurants across the region serve seasonal truffle menus, wineries host tastings and special events, and the misty woods and vineyards make the perfect cosy-season backdrop.
Heading to Alba for truffle season? Treat yourself to a stay at one of these 10 beautiful luxury hotels in Piedmont’s wine country.
