Highlights
- The One Piece anime returns on April 5, 2026, starting the epic Elbaph Arc.
- Toei is moving the One Piece anime to a high-quality seasonal broadcast format.
- New One Piece anime episodes will stream weekly on Crunchyroll this April.
After enduring a brief but deeply felt three-month hiatus, fans of One Piece have a massive reason to rejoice: the legendary anime is making its triumphant return to screens on April 5, 2026. Following the emotional and explosive conclusion of the Egghead Arc in late December 2025 with episode 1155, Monkey D. Luffy and the ever-growing Straw Hat crew are officially setting their sights on Elbaph, the fabled Land of Giants. For fans ready to embark on a journey of unprecedented scale, this highly anticipated comeback also brings the most groundbreaking structural change in the franchise's 25-year history.
The era of uninterrupted, year-round weekly drops that defined the golden age of anime is officially behind us. In a monumental pivot that mirrors broader industry trends, Toei Animation is shifting One Piece to a seasonal broadcast format. Moving forward, production will be capped at a maximum of 26 new episodes per year, carefully divided into two distinct parts or "cours."
During a special One Piece News livestream, Toei producer Ryuta Koike explained that this strategic reduction is entirely focused on delivering the best possible experience for the fans. By splitting the year into two parts, the animation team can perfectly match the tempo of creator Eiichiro Oda’s original manga without the need to stretch scenes or rely on filler-heavy rushes. This guarantees deeper dives into the source material, richer storytelling, and a massive boost to the animation quality as the studio prepares for the epic heights of the upcoming adventure.
Setting Sail for the Land of Giants
The next destination is Elbaph, a towering kingdom ruled by a warring race of giants in the New World. First whispered about all the way back in the Little Garden Arc, this long-overdue arrival promises to push Luffy and his crew’s bonds to the absolute limit. Joined by their new allies, the Giant Warrior Pirates, the Straw Hats will navigate mysterious landscapes dotted with structures resembling LEGO bricks and cross paths with a colorful cast of characters that are extremely challenging to animate.
This arc is incredibly crucial for both Luffy and Usopp, promising epic battles and dreamlike scenarios in a land known to harbor the strongest warriors in the world. Fans across the globe can catch every massive moment as the anime resumes its weekly simulcasts streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll for regions including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
One Piece Season 2
The hype for 2026 isn't just limited to the mainline Japanese broadcast. English dub viewers will hit a major milestone just before the new adventure even begins, as the final batch of dubbed Egghead Island episodes spanning episodes 1144 through 1155 is scheduled to drop on March 24, 2026, as reported by Game Rant.
Outside the animation sphere, Netflix’s massive live-action One Piece adaptation is set to debut its second season globally on March 10, 2026. This live-action expansion will notably tie in with the anime's roots, featuring original Japanese dub stars like Ikue Otani reprising her legendary role as Chopper.
With creator Eiichiro Oda recently sharing a heartfelt letter at Jump Festa vowing "maximum speed" and festival-level reveals for 2026, the pirate crew is firing on all cylinders. Between the bold new seasonal direction and an ever-expanding universe, the ultimate treasure hunt is sailing on stronger than ever.
