All Saints' weekend in the Langhe: Barbera in a castle, Alba's food square and a steam train
All Saints' Day (1 November) is a public holiday in Italy, and in most years it gives Italians a long weekend. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so there's no bonus day off: if you want three days in the Langhe, you'll have to take the Friday or the Monday yourself. It's worth it, because this year three of the best autumn events in Piedmont land on the same weekend. Alba fills its main square with Langhe e Roero in Piazza, half an hour's drive away the castle of Costigliole d'Asti hosts Rosso Barbera, and on Sunday morning a steam-hauled heritage train leaves Turin for Canelli. In the background, Alba's World White Truffle Market is open, as it is every autumn weekend.
Below are the times, prices and travel distances, checked on the organisers' websites on 21 October 2026, plus two ways to fit everything into one weekend without spending it behind the wheel.
Langhe e Roero in Piazza: Alba's old town turns into a tasting counter
Now in its 24th year, the event is run by the Go Wine association together with the White Truffle Fair. Piazza Risorgimento, the square framed by the town hall, the cathedral and Alba's medieval towers, fills with stalls that each tell the story of one product: Castelmagno and Raschera cheeses, Cervere leeks, Morozzo capon, wild mushrooms, tajarin and plin pasta, Baci di Cherasco chocolates, nougat and Piedmont hazelnuts. This year's guest from outside the province is rice from Casale Monferrato.
When: Saturday 31 October, 4:30pm–8pm; Sunday 1 November, 10am–7pm
Entry: free
Wine tasting: €12, with a glass and pouch on deposit and 4 tokens for the Wine Island in front of the town hall (around 100 Langhe and Roero labels; Barolo and Barbaresco cost 2 tokens)
The detail most visitors miss: on Saturday the square only opens in the afternoon. That leaves the morning free for the World White Truffle Market in the Cortile della Maddalena (Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am–7:30pm), before the crowds build. New this year: a ticket bought online also gets you into the new Truffle Museum. If you're driving, read our Alba Truffle Fair parking guide first: the Saturday of All Saints' is not the day to wing it.
Rosso Barbera: more than 400 Barberas inside Costigliole Castle
Costigliole d'Asti calls itself the historic capital of Barbera, and for four days the castle's grand first floor becomes the largest tasting dedicated to the grape: more than 200 wineries and over 400 wines, poured by AIS sommeliers. Alongside it there's Pianeta Grappa, a free-entry spirits hall, and Barbera Gourmet with artisan food to pair. Barbera Academy masterclasses are booked separately.
When: Friday 30 October, opening at 5pm and tasting from 6:30pm to 10:30pm; Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November from 11am; Monday 2 November is a trade-only Professional Day
Tickets: €20 online, €30 at the door
Saturday night: Notte RossoBarbera from 8pm, with a DJ and Barbera cocktails: €20, or €10 if you hold a Rosso Barbera ticket
From Alba: about 25 km, roughly 30 minutes by car
One new idea I like: a voucher lets you buy the wines you tasted directly from the winery, sometimes with a visit included. And the one piece of advice that matters more than all the others: whoever drives doesn't taste. Italy's drink-driving limits are strict, so sort out a designated driver or a taxi before you head up to the castle.
The steam heritage train from Turin to Canelli on Sunday 1 November
This is the opening run of the season on the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato railway, using Fondazione FS's 1930s "Centoporte" carriages. On 1 November the train is hauled by a steam locomotive (on the Alba–Canelli stretch, according to Italy's official tourism portal Italia.it) and runs on a special timetable:
Outbound: Turin Porta Nuova 8:55am, arriving in Canelli 11:29am
Return: Canelli 6:12pm, arriving at Turin Porta Nuova 9:15pm
Intermediate stops: Turin Lingotto, Bra, Alba
Fares quoted for the November runs: €49 per adult each way, €24.50 for children aged 4 to 11, under-4s free; tickets on Trenitalia's website, app and station machines
Tastings of Alta Langa and Monferrato sparkling wines are served on board, and in Canelli you have the whole afternoon for the Cattedrali Sotterranee, the wine cellars carved under the town and part of the UNESCO site. If you're staying in Alba, there's no need to go back to Turin: the train stops there too, so check the Alba time on your ticket. The train runs again on 8, 15 and 22 November, with a diesel locomotive.
When should you book a place to stay for All Saints' in the Langhe?
As soon as you can. The same weekend Turin hosts Artissima and its satellite art fairs (29 October to 1 November; we covered it in our guide to late October in Alba and Turin), while in Alba Saturday 31 stacks up the Truffle Fair, the food square and the first full day of Rosso Barbera. On weekends like this, our rule as hosts is simple: book early and you choose, book on the Thursday and you take what's left. If you'd rather check dates directly, with no booking-platform fees, you'll find our homes at AlbaTorino Escapes Boutique House.
Two ways to fit it all into one weekend
A long weekend based in Alba (Friday to Sunday)
Friday: arrive in the afternoon and be at Rosso Barbera when the tasting opens at 6:30pm, while the rooms are still quiet. Some restaurants in Costigliole serve Barbera pairing menus; book ahead.
Saturday: the Truffle Market at 9:30am, a long lunch, then Langhe e Roero in Piazza from 4:30pm into the evening.
Sunday: board the heritage train at Alba station for Canelli, spend the afternoon in the underground cellars and ride back in the evening.
Two days based in Turin (Saturday and Sunday)
Saturday: a morning in the city or at Artissima, then a regional train to Alba (about an hour) for the Truffle Market and Langhe e Roero in Piazza.
Sunday: the 8:55am from Porta Nuova, a day in Canelli and back by 9:15pm. No car, no parking.
Getting here: Alba is about 65 km south of Turin, roughly an hour by car; Turin airport is about half an hour from the city centre by car, Milan Malpensa around two hours from Alba. If you'd like to plan a different route, with other stops or more days, try our Weekend in Piedmont: create your personalised itinerary. And for a guided winery visit or a morning out with a truffle hunter, you'll find bookable experiences on GetYourGuide.
All Saints' in the Langhe means long tables, hills turning copper and villages that only go quiet late at night. For the rest of the season's events, see our events nearby page.
FAQ
How much is a Rosso Barbera 2026 ticket?
€20 if you buy online, €30 at the castle door. Pianeta Grappa is free to enter; the Notte RossoBarbera party on Saturday 31 October costs €20, or €10 for Rosso Barbera ticket holders.
Do I need to book the steam train on 1 November?
Yes. Seats in the Centoporte carriages are limited and tickets are sold through Trenitalia. For the November runs Fondazione FS quotes €49 per adult each way and €24.50 for children aged 4 to 11.
Is Langhe e Roero in Piazza free?
Entry to the square is free. Wine tasting costs €12 and includes a glass, a pouch (on deposit) and 4 tokens for the Wine Island; Barolo and Barbaresco take 2 tokens each.
Can I do the whole weekend without a car?
Almost. Alba and Canelli are on the railway, and on Sunday the heritage train links Turin, Bra, Alba and Canelli. For Rosso Barbera in Costigliole d'Asti you'll need a lift or a taxi: it's about 25 km from Alba.
Transparency note: this article was written with the help of AI tools and reviewed by the author. Dates, prices and opening hours were checked against available sources on 21 October 2026; please confirm them on the official websites before you travel.
All Saints' weekend between Alba, Barbera and the steam train is booking up now: here are the homes we recommend in Alba and Turin.
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