Each autumn, the misty hills of the Langhe and Roero in Piedmont turn their attention to something small, knobbed and extraordinarily fragrant. The white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico, is Italy’s most coveted variety, and its season is a quiet annual ritual of the table. In Alba, the town most closely associated with it, that ritual becomes a fair.
The Fair at Alba
The Alba International White Truffle Fair runs from 10 October to 6 December 2026. Its centrepiece is the Alba White Truffle World Market, where certified truffles, regional products and specialist sellers gather in one place. A timed-entry ticket includes admission to MUDET, the Alba Truffle Museum, which makes a thoughtful counterpoint to the bustle of the market.
Visitors are advised to go to the market early in the day, and to use the fair’s quality-control services before buying a whole truffle. It is sound advice for anyone unfamiliar with how a fine specimen should look, feel and smell.
Understanding the Aroma
The scent of a white truffle is hard to describe and harder to forget. Writers have compared it to garlic, mature cheese, hay and damp woodland, and none of those descriptions quite captures it. Unlike many ingredients, it is almost never cooked. Instead it is shaved raw over simple dishes, such as fresh egg pasta, risotto, fried eggs or the thin ribbons of tajarin, so that the warmth of the plate releases the aroma.
Beyond Alba
Alba is the best known name, but it is not the only address for truffle lovers. In the Marche, Acqualagna hosts its National White Truffle Fair from 25 October to 14 November 2026, with live cooking shows and guided tastings. San Miniato, in Tuscany, holds its National White Truffle Market from 14 to 29 November. In Piedmont, Moncalvo offers a quieter alternative on 24 and 25 October, a good moment to pair local agnolotti with a glass of Barbera. Sant’Angelo in Vado, also in the Marche, spreads its fair across four weekends from 10 October to 1 November, which suits those who prefer a gentler, more local atmosphere.
A Season, Not a Spectacle
For many Italians, the truffle is less a luxury than a marker of the calendar. The legal collecting period varies by region and province, and the main fair months are October and November, especially in Piedmont, Tuscany, Marche and parts of Umbria. Black truffles follow later, with the winter variety generally in season from roughly December to March.
The most memorable way to experience the season is simply to sit down to a plate of tajarin in a Piedmontese dining room and let the aroma do the talking. Fair dates, opening hours and ticket details can change, so please confirm them with the organisers and with each restaurant before you travel.
