Alba Events

The International White Truffle Fair

Alba's year is built around it. The 2026 edition is the 96th, running 10 October to 6 December, organised from Piazza Medford 3, 12051 Alba (CN) — +39 0173 361051, info@fieradeltartufo.org.

The core of it is the Alba White Truffle World Market in the town centre, where you can taste and buy from all the participating sellers — the trifulau who hunt and the traders who deal. Two things make it worth buying there rather than anywhere else: the trade runs under the supervision and support of the Quality Commission, and judges selected by the National Truffle Study Centre will guide you in choosing and remain available before and after a purchase to answer questions.

Around the market the fair runs a programme of cooking shows, cooking classes, wine masterclasses, dinners, a children's strand and folklore events. Tickets for the market and the events are sold online through the fair's own ticketing; the fair does not publish a door price or market hours on its public pages, so check its ticketing before travelling on a specific day.

The vineyard year

• September — the vendemmia. Not an event with tickets, but the most interesting time to be among growers, and the hardest time to get an appointment.
• Spring and early summer — the cellars are open and unhurried, which is when a tasting is actually a conversation.

Nearby, and part of the same calendar

The World White Truffle Auction is held at the castle of Grinzane Cavour, a few minutes away, and raises money for charity. Bra, 20 km west, hosts Cheese, Slow Food's biennial international festival of artisan cheesemakers.

Planning

From mid-October to early December, book accommodation and restaurant tables well in advance — this is the one period when a town of 31,215 people cannot absorb its visitors. Every other month, you can decide at breakfast.