Alba International White Truffle Fair 11th Oct to 8th Dec 2025: Italy’s Ultimate Gourmet Festival

There are food festivals, and then there is the Alba International White Truffle Fair — the crown jewel of Italy’s gourmet calendar. From 11 October to 8 December 2025, the medieval town of Alba, nestled in the rolling Langhe hills of Piedmont, becomes the world’s epicentre of fine dining, wine, and gastronomy.

This isn’t just about truffles; it’s about culture, tradition, and the artistry of food. Chefs, sommeliers, food lovers, and curious travellers flock here to celebrate the legendary tartufo bianco d’Alba, a delicacy prized for its intense aroma and rarity. Markets buzz with truffle hunters displaying their finds, while Michelin-star chefs host live cooking shows. In the evenings, Alba’s narrow streets glow with lanterns, wine flows freely, and the scent of truffle-infused dishes drifts through the air.

But with thousands of visitors, multiple events across the town, and excursions into the surrounding wine country, staying connected is essential. From booking tastings in real time to navigating rural vineyards, having data at your fingertips ensures you won’t miss a thing. This is where Voye Global eSIM becomes your most useful travel companion: instant activation, multi-carrier coverage across Italy, and seamless service whether you’re in bustling Alba or a quiet vineyard in Barolo.

This guide takes you through everything you need to know about the 2025 Alba White Truffle Fair — from highlights and food to where to stay, how to travel, and how to make it all stress-free with Voye.

What Makes the Fair Special?

Few festivals combine history, prestige, and indulgence like this one. The Alba International White Truffle Fair (Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba) has been held since 1929, growing into one of Europe’s most anticipated gourmet events.

• The prestige of Alba truffles: The white truffle is a seasonal treasure found only in select parts of Piedmont and a few regions beyond. Unlike farmed mushrooms, truffles must be hunted by skilled locals with specially trained dogs. Their rarity and intoxicating aroma make them one of the world’s most expensive delicacies.
• The World Truffle Market: Held at Cortile della Maddalena, this is the fair’s beating heart. Here, visitors can see, smell, and even buy truffles, certified by experts for quality and authenticity.
• Global draw: Chefs, food journalists, and buyers from around the world attend. It’s a unique place where Michelin-star cuisine meets rustic tradition.
• Cultural fusion: Beyond food, Alba comes alive with art exhibitions, medieval parades, concerts, and markets selling local crafts.

This isn’t just a food festival — it’s a full cultural immersion into Piedmont’s wine-soaked heritage.

Key Events & Experiences

The Truffle Market (Mercato Mondiale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba)

The centrepiece of the fair. Visitors stroll past stands where truffle hunters proudly display their finds, some tiny and delicate, others fist-sized and commanding prices higher than gold. Every truffle sold is inspected and certified by a quality commission, ensuring authenticity.

Truffle Auctions

For high-end buyers and restaurants, special auctions see the largest truffles sold for staggering amounts, often to international bidders. It’s theatre as much as commerce.

Wine Pairings

Alba sits in the heart of Barolo and Barbaresco country. Expect guided tastings where you’ll learn to pair truffles with full-bodied reds, crisp whites, and sparkling Moscato d’Asti.

Cooking Shows

World-famous chefs demonstrate how to use white truffles in dishes such as tajarin pasta, risotto, and veal fillet. Tastings usually follow, making this one of the fair’s most popular activities.

Cultural Events

From the Palio degli Asini (Donkey Race) to historical reenactments, Alba leans into its medieval heritage. Street performers, concerts, and parades create a festive backdrop.

Travel & Connectivity with Voye

Alba is a medieval town with winding alleys, limited signage, and events spread across multiple venues. Combine that with day trips into vineyards and hillside villages, and it’s clear why connectivity is crucial.

Why Voye Makes Sense Here?

• Instant Activation: Buy your Italy eSIM online, scan, and connect as soon as you land in Italy. Skip SIM shops in Turin or Milan airports.
• Multi-Carrier Coverage: Piedmont’s rural landscapes are breathtaking but can overwhelm single networks. Voye switches automatically between carriers, keeping you online in Alba, Barolo, and beyond.
• Travel Simplicity: Use Google Maps to find your way through medieval streets, or check real-time train schedules from Turin to Alba.
• Cashless Convenience: Many stalls accept mobile payments — secure connectivity means smooth transactions.
• Couples & Groups: One partner can track bookings while the other navigates; live location sharing makes meeting up in crowded markets easy.
• Beyond Alba: Heading to Milan for fashion, Florence for art, or Paris for a stopover? Voye works seamlessly across borders, so your connectivity travels with you.

With Voye, you’re free to focus on flavours and experiences, not on finding a signal.

Food & Drink Highlights

The fair is a feast for all senses. Here are must-try dishes:

• Tajarin al Tartufo: Fine egg pasta, often made with up to 40 yolks per kilo of flour, served with butter and shaved truffles.
• Risotto al Tartufo: Creamy rice infused with the earthy aroma of truffle.
• Brasato al Barolo: Beef slow-cooked in Barolo wine.
• Vitello Tonnato: Veal in a tuna-capers sauce, a Piedmont classic.
• Cheeses: Castelmagno and Robiola, perfect with truffle shavings.
• Sweets: Hazelnut cake from Langhe and Turin’s gianduja chocolate.
• Wines: Barolo and Barbaresco reds, Moscato d’Asti sparkling, Dolcetto for everyday drinking.

Food here is meant for sharing — making it perfect for couples or groups.

Where to Stay in Alba & Surroundings?

Alba is small, so accommodation fills up quickly during the fair. Options include:

• Luxury Hotels: Boutique stays in Alba’s old town with elegant dining rooms.
• Wine Resorts: Vineyard estates offering truffle dinners, tastings, and spa treatments.
• Agriturismi: Farmhouse B&Bs for a rustic, authentic feel.
• Budget Options: Guesthouses and small hotels in nearby towns like Bra or Asti.

Book early — many visitors reserve a year in advance.

Getting to Alba & Around Piedmont

• Airports: Turin Caselle (1.5 hrs), Milan Malpensa (2 hrs), Genoa (2 hrs).
• Train: Frequent trains from Turin to Alba.
• Car Rental: Recommended if exploring Barolo, La Morra, and hilltop villages.
• With Voye: Real-time navigation through winding vineyard roads, translation apps for menus, and ticket bookings for trains.

Extra Things to Do in Piedmont

• Barolo & Barbaresco Towns: Explore wine cellars and scenic tasting rooms.
• Grinzane Cavour Castle: UNESCO heritage site and home to the truffle auction.
• Langhe Hills: Hike among autumn foliage and vineyards.
• Turin: Visit chocolate shops, Royal Palace, and Egypt Museum.
• Scenic Drives: Rolling hills dotted with vineyards and medieval towers.

Tips for Visitors

• Arrive early at markets — best truffles sell out quickly.
• Budget accordingly: Truffles are expensive; tastings may add up.
• Dress warmly: Autumn and early winter can be chilly and misty.
• Book in advance: Events, tastings, and accommodation sell out.
• Stay connected: Voye ensures smooth bookings, translations, and payments.

FAQs

Q: When is the Alba White Truffle Fair 2025?
11 October – 8 December 2025.

Q: Do you need tickets?
Yes, for the truffle market, cooking shows, and auctions.

Q: Can tourists buy truffles?
Yes, by weight, with certificates of authenticity.

Q: Is Alba easy to reach?
Yes, by train from Turin, or by car for flexibility.

Q: Does Voye work in rural areas?
Yes — it switches between carriers for the best coverage in Piedmont’s hills.

Conclusion

The Alba International White Truffle Fair 2025 is more than a gourmet event — it’s a cultural pilgrimage. From the scent of fresh truffles to the taste of world-class Barolo wines, from medieval parades to Michelin-star cooking shows, Alba offers an unforgettable journey through Italy’s culinary soul.

To make the most of it, stay connected with Voye Global eSIM. It ensures stress-free travel, secure payments, seamless bookings, and instant sharing of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. With your itinerary planned, accommodation booked, and eSIM activated, all that’s left is to savour the flavours of Alba.

Buon viaggio e buon appetito!