With 2025 ending, it’s time for fans of the One Piece series to part with their favorite anime for a while. As fans might have already heard, the One Piece anime is going on hiatus this very December, following the conclusion of the Egghead Arc.
One Piece’s End Is Close, But Oda Has Already Planned For A Continuation Of The Story
One Piece is in its final saga, and Oda is already planning to continue his story.
The last episode of the One Piece anime will air on December 28, and the series won’t return for a couple of months. One Piece will return in 2026, in April to be exact, and immediately kickstart Elbaf, a long-awaited arc fans can’t wait to see. The beginning of 2026 will definitely be tough for fans, especially as the manga is also going on quite a few breaks.
The One Piece Anime is Going On Break In December 2025
- One Piece Anime Goes Seasonal
- One Piece Manga Will Go On Multiple Breaks
Between the end of 2024 and early 2025, the One Piece anime went on a 6-month break. Fans thought that the break was an exception, but it has become apparent that this will now be a common occurrence in the anime.
The One Piece anime is now heading towards its next extended break. One Piece episode 1155, titled “The Promised Horizon At Long Last, Towards The Long Awaited Elbaf!,” will be 2025’s last episode, as well as the last episode before the break.
What is this feeling? I feel like I can do anything! This is my peak… This is Gear 5! — Luffy in One Piece chapter 1044
One Piece Episode 1155 will air on the last Sunday of the month, that is, December 28, to be exact. This episode will conclude the Egghead arc and see the Straw Hat Pirates head to their new destination, Elbaf.
The One Piece Anime Won’t Return Until April 2026
The upcoming One Piece break will be a long one for the fans to get through. Starting the end of December, it will take the One Piece anime about 3 months to return. The One Piece anime has been confirmed to return on April 5, 2026. Fans can’t wait for the comeback and the beginning of the Elbaf arc. A trailer for the Elbaf arc was recently revealed to the fans on Jump Festa, and while it looks very unpolished right now, it is quite clear that Elbaf will be a wonderful journey for the fans to get through.
One Piece: Oda Has Already Revealed The True Heir Of Monkey D. Luffy
Luffy’s heir has already been revealed. Oda has already shown the boy who will continue on Luffy’s legacy in One Piece.
One Piece Anime Will Regularly Go On Long Breaks in The Future
Fans of the One Piece anime need to get used to long breaks. This is unfortunate, but it is now official. It was revealed this year that, starting 2026, Toei Animation will only release 26 episodes of One Piece a year. Not only that, but these episodes won’t be released in one go.
Instead, these episodes will be released in two, 13 episodes cours. Between each cour, there will be a three-month break. In other words, fans are already anticipating another break in 2026 starting in July.
This is definitely going to be hard to get used to for fans who have been following the anime weekly for over 2 decades. The worst part is, there doesn’t seem to be any animation upgrade to justify the long breaks. The only promise Toei made is to stick to one chapter per episode, which is about the same as what they have been doing for Egghead.
Rocks, I won’t let you go after my crew! — Roger to Rocks after Domi Reversi
While this is definitely sad, it is also important to note that, in order for the staff to consistently deliver high-quality episodes every now and then, these breaks are very important. In an era where high-level animation for big Shonen series is becoming the norm, this is a vital step for the company. Fans may hate it, but it is something that they’ll have to get used to moving forward.
Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece focuses on the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they sail the seas to lay claim to the grand treasure known as the One Piece. The anime and manga are currently in their Final Saga. One Piece will drop its last episode this weekend. The official release date of One Piece Episode 1155 is December 28, 2025. Fans can stream the episode on Crunchyroll. Meanwhile, the One Piece manga can be read for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps. Doing so will ensure that fans always support the author.
