After more than 25 years of uninterrupted navigation, ONE PIECE is preparing to arrive on the island most anticipated by fans since the days of Little Garden: Elbaf. The anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece not only enters one of its most crucial and mythology-laden arcs, but it does so by breaking its own story.
EIICHIRO ODA ABOUT ELBAPH 😲 pic.twitter.com/fyZetdSth4
— Pew (@pewpiece) December 21, 2025
Toei Animation has confirmed that the series will abandon its continuous broadcast format to adopt a season systema decision that seeks to raise the technical quality to cinematic levels, competing with the visual excellence of productions such as Jujutsu Kaisen o Demon Slayer.
Beyond being a milestone for fans and «Straw Hats», Elbaf is the place where the pieces of the puzzle of the Void Century, the legacy of Joy Boy and the secrets of Nika They promise to be revealed.
The art and design of clothing that the Straw Hats will wear during the Elbaph arc of ONE PIECE. Photo: ONE PIECE (@Eiichiro_Staff / X).After Egghead’s chaos, Luffy and his crew head to a kingdom of legendary warriors that have been mentioned in whispers for decades.. For fans of great pirate epics and massive-scale fantasy, the beginning of this arc represents «the beginning of the end» of the series, where Each episode promises to be a global event that will paralyze the internet.
ONE PIECE’s Elbaf arc will officially premiere on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
— Toei Animation (@ToeiAnimation) December 21, 2025
While the anime goes on a well-deserved hiatus, The hiatus will allow the Toei animation team – and the creative directors – to prepare this new season scheme in the best possible way.. The expectation is maximum, since It will be the first time we see the Land of the Giants with a renewed artistic direction and a much more agile narrative rhythm.
How many episodes will the Elbaf season of One Piece have?
In a move that has shaken both the industry and fans alike, it has been confirmed that Elbaf’s arc will consist of 26 episodes. This data is revolutionary for a reason: ONE PIECE officially switches to a seasonal season scheme. For the first time in decades, the anime will not air every Sunday of the year indefinitely.
ONE PIECE TV Anime ‘Elbaph Arc’ Key Visual.
The anime series will be on break from January to March, returning in April 2026.
The adaptation will also limit its broadcast to 26 episodes per year, and each episode will adapt one chapter of the manga.https://t.co/ZOCvM5NMCI pic.twitter.com/jbuIf3Zqbx
— Shonen Jump News (@WSJ_manga) October 28, 2025
The 26-chapter format (equivalent to two courses) will allow the animation team to work with a longer time frame, ensuring giant battles and key revelations have a fluidity and visual impact never seen before in the weekly series.
What is the Elbaf arc about? The new adventure of ONE PIECE
After leaving the futuristic island of Egghead, The Straw Hats finally arrive in Elbaf, the nation of giants in the New World.. This kingdom, deeply inspired by Norse mythology and home to warriors like Dorry and Brogy, It is considered the strongest nation in the world.
The key points that define this arc are:
- The mystery of Prince Loki: an enigmatic figure who has been mentioned since the Whole Cake Island arc and who seems to have a vital connection to the fate of the world.
- Usopp’s dream: Elbaf has been Usopp’s personal goal for over 20 years in real life. This is where the crew’s marksman seeks to finally become a «brave warrior of the sea.»
- The connection with Ohara: The arc is expected to explore what happened to the books saved from Ohara’s library, directly linking Robin to the knowledge kept by the giants and the emotional reunion with Jaguar D. Saul.
- Nika and the prophecy: As a land of warriors who worship the Sun God, the arrival of Luffy in his Gear 5 form (Nika) will provoke an unprecedented reaction in the culture of Elbaf.
So, take your positions and prepare to set sail. Elbaf is not just another island of the adventures of Luffy and company. No, It is the prelude to the great final war for One Piece.
