Italy’s most celebrated autumn food event returns this October. The 96th International Alba White Truffle Fair runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10 October to 6 December 2026, filling the Cortile della Maddalena in the Piedmontese town of Alba with truffle traders, winemakers, chefs, and upwards of 600,000 visitors over its nine-week run.
Tickets and booking details are now live on the official site — and with this scale of event, advance planning matters.
What the fair involves
The centrepiece is the White Truffle World Market, held each weekend inside the Cortile della Maddalena. This is where licensed truffle hunters bring fresh white truffles (Tuber magnatum pico) for sale, and where visitors can buy directly. Entry to the market costs €6.30; children under 15 and visitors with disabilities enter free.
Surrounding the market, each weekend carries its own programme of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, truffle auction dinners in historic cellars, and guided walks through the Langhe hills. The fair also functions as a window into Piedmontese food culture more broadly — Barolo and Barbaresco producers from the nearby wine country typically use the weekends to open their cellars.
When to go
The fair runs every weekend for nine weeks, which gives visitors genuine flexibility. A few notes on timing:
- Mid-October sees the most excitement around opening weekend, but truffle yields are still building
- Mid-to-late November tends to offer the best truffle quality and the fullest events calendar
- Late November and early December are the busiest for international visitors and carry the highest prices
If flexibility is possible, the second or third weekend of November is generally considered the sweet spot for quality, variety, and atmosphere without the absolute peak-week pressure.
Getting to Alba
Alba sits in the Langhe hills of southern Piedmont, roughly 60 km southeast of Turin. The most practical options from major Italian cities:
- From Milan, take a train to Alba via Asti or Bra (around 2.5–3 hours total, with a change)
- From Turin, the drive is around an hour, or take a regional train via Bra
- For those doing a broader northern Italy trip, combining the fair with Milan tours and the Langhe wine region makes for a natural week-long itinerary
Accommodation in Alba itself is limited and books out quickly for fair weekends. Nearby towns — Bra, Asti, or the agriturismo properties scattered through the Langhe vineyards — are all worth considering.
Booking tickets
The White Truffle World Market tickets are available on the official fair site at fieradeltartufo.org. The site also carries information on special events, cellar dinners, and the broader programme for each weekend.
We recommend booking as soon as dates are confirmed in your travel plans. The fair has sold out on multiple weekends in recent years, particularly in November.
Beyond the fair
The Langhe region around Alba is worth more than a single day. The area holds a dense concentration of DOCG wine estates producing Barolo, Barbaresco, and Moscato d’Asti. Many offer tastings and accommodation. Combine a fair weekend with a couple of nights in the vineyards and the trip extends naturally into something memorable. For tours in northern Italy around the Langhe and Piedmont, GetYourGuide lists wine and truffle experiences that pair well with a fair visit.