The 96th edition of the Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba opens on 10 October 2026 and runs until 6 December. Across nine weekends, the small Piedmontese town of Alba is dedicated to the white truffle, known scientifically as Tuber magnatum Picco. The fair attracts, by its own account, more than 600,000 visitors per season and is one of the most significant gastronomic events in Piemont. The theme of this year's edition is Autentiche Relazioni , authentic relationships.
The Truffle Market in the Cortile della Maddalena
At the heart of the Fiera is the Mercato Mondiale del Tartufo, which takes place every Saturday and Sunday between 10 October and 6 December in the Cortile della Maddalena, with the entrance from Piazza Falcone. Opening hours are 9.30 to 19.30. At the stalls, the Trifolao, the traditional truffle hunters, offer their freshly harvested tubers, alongside winemakers from the surrounding growing areas of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, as well as regional food producers.
Before any sale, each individual truffle is examined by the fair's Commissione Qualità , a panel of trained sensory specialists from the Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo. Only certified specimens may be sold. The traditional art of truffle hunting itself has been recognised as part of the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCOsince 2021. Even for visitors with no intention of buying, a walk through the market is worthwhile, as it offers a chance to compare the various sizes, price ranges and regions of origin of the white truffle.
New for 2026: Ticket Including the Truffle Museum, Guest Region Rioja
The 96th edition introduces two new features. For the first time, entry to the MUDET, Museo del Tartufo in Alba is included directly in the Fiera ticket. This single-subject museum opened on 14 October 2023 in the Cortile della Maddalena and covers 530 square metres of cultural history, biology and economic significance of the white truffle. Opening hours are 10.30 to 18.00, closed on Tuesdays.
As guest region, the Fiera this year welcomes the Spanish wine region of Rioja. Following Champagne, Burgundy, Napa Valley and the Etna region in Sicily, the Truffle and Wine series broadens the fair's international frame of reference still further. In Alba itself, the white truffle is presented in dialogue with the consortia of Barolo, Barbaresco and Alta Langa DOCG.
Supporting Programme: From Cookery Shows to the Palio
The Fiera is built around an extensive supporting programme. It opens symbolically with the Capodanno del Tartufo, the "Truffle New Year" on the night of 30 September to 1 October, when Alba marks the start of the official harvesting season with an artistic moment at the Teatro Sociale, a procession of Trifolao with their dogs, and a closing toast with Alta Langa DOCG.
Spread across the nine weekends, the programme brings more than 40 Michelin-starred chefs from Italy and abroad to cookery shows, aperitivo formats and Laboratori del Gusto to Alba. Alongside this comes the historic Palio degli Asini , a donkey race serving as a parodic riposte to the Palio di Asti, the Baccanale dei Borghi with medieval processions, and the flag-throwing competition Festival della Bandiera. The literary centrepiece is provided by the Premio Lattes Grinzane, an international literary prize awarded annually as part of the Fiera.
Getting There and Practical Tips
Alba is situated in the south of Piedmont, at the heart of the UNESCO wine landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato. From Turin , the journey takes around one hour via the A6 and A33 motorways; from Milan via the A7 and A21, approximately two hours. Alba can also be reached from Genoa via the A26 in roughly two hours. Those travelling by train typically use the regional service from Turin (Porta Nuova).
The Fiera ticket costs six euros, is available online or on the day, and includes admission to the MUDET. A reduced price applies for groups of 30 or more; children under 15 and people with disabilities enter free of charge. The truffle itself is paid for separately, and no per-kilogram price is displayed, as it fluctuates seasonally and from week to week.
