One Piece: Eiichiro Oda Officially Reveals The Next Arc After Elbaf For 2026

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Final Saga.

After the Wano Country Arc ended, One Piece entered its Final Saga – the most action-packed part of the story yet. Creator Eiichiro Oda has envisioned this final stretch for years, and it’s easy to see why. The saga kicked off with the Egghead arc, which was incredibly intense for fans, and now the Elbaf arc has begun, delivering a thrilling experience with even bigger events on the horizon.

The Elbaf arc in One Piece started in 2024 and is currently about halfway complete. We can expect the rest of the year and much of 2025 to focus on finishing this arc. According to creator Eiichiro Oda, Elbaf should conclude in 2026, with a new story arc starting near the end of that year. For months, fans have been speculating about what that next arc would be, and Oda has now revealed it: the story will center on an island that only the Pirate King has ever visited.

Oda Confirms Elbaf Will Likely End In 2026

  • The Elbaf Flashback Will End Soon
  • The Final Battles Of The Elbaf Arc Will Finally Begin

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, shared some big news with fans at Jump Festa 2026. Although the One Piece event itself didn’t have many major announcements, Oda’s message stood out as always. He revealed that the mysterious ‘Man with the Burn Scar’ will appear in the manga in 2026, and teased some never-before-seen character pairings and exciting battles to come that same year.

I recently heard Oda say something really interesting – he thinks 2026 might be a year of big new developments for One Piece. What stood out most was his hope to wrap up the Elbaf Arc by the end of 2026. It seems he’s already planned out what’s coming, and now that the long flashback portion of the arc is finished, we can expect the final battles to begin soon. After that, the Straw Hats should be ready to head to the next island! Fans are incredibly excited about seeing Elbaf come to a close, as it will bring Luffy and the crew one step closer to their ultimate goal: finding the One Piece.

After Elbaf, The Straw Hats Will Head To The Last Island

It’s great that Oda is finally showing us how the Elbaf arc will end, and he’s also given fans a hint of what’s coming next for the Straw Hats. For years, people have been speculating about how the story will lead to its grand finale. Egghead Island was just the beginning, and now it seems Elbaf is the first truly significant step towards that final saga.

It’s hard to say for sure what’s coming next in One Piece after the Elbaf arc, but a lot of fans think the story will focus on Luffy trying to get the final Road Poneglyph – the last piece he needs to reach the Final Island. That seems like a strong possibility. What makes it even more exciting is that Oda, the creator, has said the next arc will be a huge turning point in the story.

I was really surprised to hear Oda’s message at Jump Festa 2026! He revealed that after the Elbaf arc, Luffy and the Straw Hats are going to the island that only the Pirate King has ever reached. It feels like a huge signal that One Piece is entering its final saga. As fans know, Roger and his crew were the first in roughly 800 years to complete a full circumnavigation of the world and find Laugh Tale, which ultimately earned Roger the title of Pirate King. It’s exciting to think Luffy is now on the path to follow in his footsteps!

Now then, since it’s Jump Festa, let’s talk about the original Jump manga!

Wow, after what felt like a really detailed look back at everything that led up to this, we suddenly snap back to the present! Just as I was starting to see Elbaf in a whole new light… the chapter ends with a massive, explosive climax! Seriously, things are about to get unbelievably intense from here on out – I can barely handle the anticipation!

Could this be the island only the Pirate King has ever found? A mysterious, flame-marked man makes his entrance! Two people who’ve never met before are about to cross paths… and it looks like even more surprising meetings are on the way! Will next year be filled with incredible encounters?

The story is progressing very quickly, but I’m getting older too! I’ll be prioritizing my health and continuing to work on One Piece next year at a fast pace – steadily and with everything I’ve got. A big event is coming up soon, so please stay tuned!

Most One Piece fans probably think Oda is referring to the Laugh Tale arc coming after the Elbaf arc. But there’s a strong chance he’s actually talking about Lodestar Island instead.

Lodestar is Most Likely The Next Arc After Elbaf

  • Lodstar Island Is The Last Island On The Grand Line
  • It Holds The Secrets Of The Poneglyphs

It’s clear that Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, are getting very close to their ultimate destination, Laugh Tale. It makes sense that Laugh Tale is next, as the creator, Oda, has stated it’s a place only the Pirate King has ever reached. However, there’s another island in the One Piece world that only the Roger Pirates ever discovered: Lodestar.

Fans first learned about Lodestar Island during the Wano Country Arc. It was discovered by the Roger Pirates 39 years before the events at God Valley – roughly a year before that incident. Roger declared it the last island in the Grand Line, one no one had ever reached before. It was on Lodestar Island that Roger learned about the Poneglyphs and their significance, prompting him to begin a new voyage to find all four of these special stones.

Get ready – the final saga of One Piece is about to begin! I’m going to reveal all the long-held secrets and mysteries of this world. It’s going to be an exciting ride, so hold on tight! Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ll stick with the story until the very end. — Eiichiro Oda

Lodestar Island holds the key to understanding the Poneglyphs and the mysteries of the One Piece. It’s a crucial location that Eiichiro Oda introduced for a significant reason. Importantly, it’s the final island reachable using the Log Pose. Luffy hasn’t found the last Poneglyph yet, and won’t during the Elbaf arc, meaning the next arc can’t be Laugh Tale.

The story will probably move forward with Luffy using the Log Pose to travel to Lodestar Island, potentially after visiting Elbaf. This journey could tie into the plot involving the Man with the Burn Scar, who might be waiting for Luffy there. Once they meet, it could finally kick off the biggest fight for the One Piece treasure.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, on their adventure to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. The newest chapter, 1170, will be released in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on January 4, 2026. In Japan, it will become available at midnight on Monday, which is 11:00 AM Eastern Time and 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, which directly supports the creator.

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2025-12-26 15:35