Alba White Truffle Festival – Italy 2025

Background & History

The Alba White Truffle Festival, or Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba, began in 1928 as a local fair and has grown into the world’s premier event for the Tuber magnatum Pico, the “King of Mushrooms.” Its global fame was solidified by Giacomo Morra, dubbed the “King of Truffles” by The Times in 1933, who promoted the Alba white truffle as a culinary treasure.

Held in Alba, the historic and economic capital of the UNESCO-recognized Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato region, the festival celebrates Italian gastronomic excellence. Since Alba’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy in 2017, the event has highlighted the region’s cultural and economic significance, attracting over 600,000 visitors annually with a €55 economic return per euro invested.

Event Highlights

• Alba White Truffle World Market: The heart of the festival, located in the Cortile della Maddalena, where visitors can purchase authentic white truffles from trifulau (truffle hunters) under strict quality control by the National Truffle Study Centre.
• Truffle Auctions: The 26th World Alba White Truffle Auction in November at Castello di Grinzane Cavour, raising over $6.8 million for charity since 1999, featuring high-value truffles bid on globally.
• Cooking Shows and Fine Aperitifs: Weekend sessions at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM with Michelin-starred chefs showcasing truffle-infused dishes, plus new “Gourmet Sunsets” aperitif experiences.
• Donkey Palio and Folklore: Historical reenactments, flag-waving performances, and the Palio degli Asini, a donkey race, immerse visitors in Alba’s medieval traditions.
• Alba Truffle Kids: A playful, educational space for children with workshops on cooking, sustainability, and crafting inspired by the Langhe landscape.

Date & Duration

Dates: October 11 – December 7, 2025
Duration: 9 weekends (Saturdays and Sundays)
Hours: Alba White Truffle World Market open 9:30 AM–7:30 PM; other events vary (e.g., cooking shows at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM)

Venue / Location

Main Address: Cortile della Maddalena, Piazza Falcone, 12051 Alba (CN), Italy (Alba White Truffle World Market).
Additional Locations: All events occur in Alba, Piedmont, Italy, at the following venues:

• Castello di Grinzane Cavour: Via Castello 5, 12060 Grinzane Cavour (CN), Italy (truffle auctions)
• Roddi Castle: Piazza Umberto I, 12060 Roddi (CN), Italy (guided tours and lunches, cooking classes)
• Palazzo Mostre e Congressi: Piazza Medford 3, 12051 Alba (CN), Italy (exhibitions, dinners, and events)
• City Center: Various locations for folklore events, including Piazza Risorgimento and Via Vittorio Emanuele.
  City and Country: Alba, Piedmont, Italy

Contact Information

Email: info@fieradeltartufo.org
Phone: +39 0173 361051 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM)
Address: Ente Fiera di Alba, Piazza Medford 3, 12051 Alba (CN), Italy
Website: fieradeltartufo.org
Social Media: fieradeltartufo (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $5.50 USD (5 EUR), online purchase $4.40 USD (4 EUR), group rate (30+ people) $4.40 USD (4 EUR).
• Wine Tasting Add-on: $10.50 USD (9.50 EUR), includes two tastings at Grande Enoteca and additional producer stands.
• Special Experiences:
  • Cooking Shows: ~$22–$33 USD (20–30 EUR), includes dish tasting.
  • Truffle Sensory Analysis: ~$27–$38 USD (25–35 EUR), guided by experts.
  • Cooking Classes at Roddi Castle: ~$55–$82 USD (50–75 EUR), includes meal and wine.
  • Guided Tour and Lunch at Roddi Castle: ~$66–$99 USD (60–90 EUR).
• Free Access: Some folklore events, like the Donkey Palio in Piazza Risorgimento and Alba Truffle Kids workshops, are free, subject to registration.
• Sales Channels: Tickets available online at fieradeltartufo.org, or on-site at Cortile della Maddalena (Piazza Falcone) and Palazzo Mostre e Congressi (Piazza Medford 3). Reservations required for cooking shows, classes, and sensory analysis.
• Notes: Prices for special experiences are estimates based on past editions; 2025 pricing will be confirmed in September 2025. No VIP seating, but premium packages include priority access to events.

Cultural Experience

The Alba White Truffle Festival transforms the medieval city of Alba into a vibrant celebration of Piedmontese heritage. Visitors immerse themselves in the UNESCO-listed Langhe region, surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards. The festival blends gastronomy with history, featuring medieval reenactments, flag-waving performances, and music that evokes Alba’s past as Alba Pompeia. The Alba White Truffle, prized since the 18th century by figures like Gioacchino Rossini, is the star, paired with local Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Events like the truffle auction and sensory analysis highlight the region’s commitment to quality and tradition, while Alba Truffle Kids engages younger visitors with sustainable, hands-on activities.

Food & Drinks

• Must-Try Specialties: Savor white truffle dishes like tajarin pasta with shaved truffles ($15–$30 USD) and fonduta (cheese fondue with truffles, $20–$40 USD). Market stalls offer grilled sausages ($5–$10 USD), truffle-infused oils ($10–$20 USD), and local cheeses ($5–$15 USD). Mulled wine and hot chocolate cost $3–$7 USD.
• Festival Dining: Cooking shows and fine aperitifs feature dishes by Michelin-starred chefs, paired with Barolo wines ($10–$20 USD per glass). Unusual Dinners at historic venues like Palazzo Mostre e Congressi offer multi-course truffle menus ($100–$200 USD). Nearby restaurants like Piazza Duomo (Piazza Risorgimento 4) serve truffle-focused meals ($50–$150 USD).

Family & Accessibility

• Family-Friendly: Alba Truffle Kids offers free workshops for children, including cooking and crafting, fostering creativity and environmental awareness. The Donkey Palio and folklore events are family-oriented, with open-air activities in Piazza Risorgimento.
• Accessibility: Cortile della Maddalena and Palazzo Mostre e Congressi are wheelchair-accessible, with flat entrances and restrooms. Cobblestone streets in Alba’s city center may pose challenges. Roddi Castle has limited accessibility due to historical structures. Free public transport passes with hotel bookings cover accessible buses and trains.

Getting There

• By Air: Turin Airport (TRN), 75 km from Alba, is the nearest international airport, with car rentals or shuttle buses (~$20–$40 USD, 1 hour). Milan Malpensa (MXP), 150 km away, offers more flights.
• Public Transport: Trenitalia’s SFM4 line connects Turin to Alba (1h20m, $5.80 USD adults, $3.90 USD children 4–12, free under 4). From Alba station, buses or a 10-minute walk reach Cortile della Maddalena. Free transport passes with hotel stays cover local buses.
• Parking: Available at Piazza Medford (near Palazzo Mostre e Congressi, ~$1–$2 USD/hour) and Piazza Garibaldi (near Alba station). Limited spaces during peak weekends.
• Traffic Restrictions: Expect closures around Piazza Falcone and Piazza Risorgimento during folklore events. Check fieradeltartufo.org for updates.

Truffle Hunting Experiences

Guided truffle hunts, led by expert trufflehounds and their dogs, offer an immersive experience in the Langhe woods. Organized by Centro Studi Tartufo (+39 0173 472628, info@tuber.it), tours cost ~$55–$110 USD per person and include learning about truffle ecology and tasting sessions. Reservations are required via tuber.it.

Additional Services

• Information Booths: Located at Cortile della Maddalena and Palazzo Mostre e Congressi, offering maps and event schedules.
• Merchandise: Truffle products (oils, salts, $10–$50 USD) and festival souvenirs (mugs, posters, $5–$20 USD) available at market stalls.
• Guided Tours: Book Langhe Experience tours (+39 0173 362562, info@langhe-experience.it) for winery visits, truffle hunts, or castle tours ($20–$100 USD).
• Live Streaming: Select cooking shows and auctions are streamed on fieradeltartufo.org (~$5–$10 USD for access).
• Sustainability: The festival promotes eco-friendly practices, with a truffle season adjusted to October 1–January 31 for climate considerations.