I started following the Elbaph arc of One Piece back in 2024 with issue 42 of Weekly Shonen Jump, and it’s been a wild ride ever since. It’s already stretched across four volumes, and Eiichiro Oda is still working on bringing the arc to its amazing climax in the months ahead. Honestly, Elbaph has been phenomenal so far – we’ve met characters like Loki, learned so much more about Rocks D. Xebec’s history, and even been introduced to Nerona Imu. But, I can feel with each new chapter that we’re getting closer to the end.
The current storyline of One Piece is nearing its end, and creator Eiichiro Oda recently announced that the next major story arc will begin in 2026. Considering how action-packed One Piece already is, this new arc promises to be even more epic and intense than the Paramount War from 2011.
Eiichiro Oda Confirms One Piece’s Next Arc Will Begin In 2026 On A Remote Island and Will Tie In To The Pirate King
The story of One Piece is reaching a peak with the intense conflict on Elbaf. The fight between Loki, the exiled prince, and King Nerona Imu began in chapter 1181 and is still happening. This battle between Loki and Imu will wrap up soon, which will then kick off the showdown between the Sun God Nika and Imu.
Eiichiro Oda has officially announced plans for a new One Piece arc to begin in 2026. Revealed at Jump Festa 2026, Oda stated that after the current storyline involving Elbaf concludes, the Straw Hat Pirates will journey to an island that no one except the Pirate King has ever visited. This information was shared through an official message from Oda at the One Piece stage event.
Eiichiro Oda announced at Jump Festa 2026 that the story is moving towards the legendary island only reachable by the Pirate King! He also hinted at the appearance of a character marked by flames and promised long-awaited encounters between characters who have never met before. Several key pairings will finally come face-to-face.
The Straw Hats are either going to reach Laugh Tale, where the One Piece treasure is hidden, or they’re heading to the final island of the Grand Line, Lodestar Island. Since Luffy doesn’t have the last Road Poneglyph needed to navigate to Laugh Tale, it’s more likely their next stop is Lodestar Island. Whatever happens on either of these islands, the author, Eiichiro Oda, has confirmed that this part of the story is directly connected to the Pirate King and will be crucial to understanding the overall plot of One Piece, as well as the mysteries of the Void Century.
Lodestar Island was first introduced in One Piece Chapter 966, when Roger revealed he discovered the Poneglyphs and the location of the Final Island within the Grand Line – which is this island. While Eiichiro Oda hasn’t explored it much yet, it’s expected to become more important in the Final Saga, and could even be central to the upcoming climactic battle.
Why The Great War Will Officially Begin After Elbaph
The Straw Hat Pirates are on their way to an island that hasn’t been reached since the time of the Pirate King, and the next part of the story promises to be incredibly exciting. Recent comments from Nerona Imu in One Piece Chapter 1115 have added to this anticipation. Imu specifically states that the events unfolding in Elbaph are just a setup for a much larger war. This war is expected to be a long and significant conflict, potentially lasting for weeks, months, or even years, mirroring a century-long war from the past between the Ancient Kingdom and a coalition of twenty kings. Based on comments from the author, Oda, this massive war is likely to begin in 2026.
The Great War has begun, and the Giants’ decision about which side to support will significantly impact how the war unfolds. — Gunko, One Piece chapter 1146
Eiichiro Oda has hinted that this year in One Piece will be all about characters reconnecting and meeting for the first time. This suggests major roles for figures like Shanks, Blackbeard, and Buggy, and will likely increase the tension as the story heads towards a large-scale conflict.
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Eiichiro Oda Confirmed Plans To Make Great War Arc Bigger Than Marineford
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has made it clear that the Marineford arc was just a prelude to a much larger conflict. The upcoming Great War will be far more intense and significant. After the Straw Hat Pirates finish their journey in Elbaph, Oda plans to dramatically increase the stakes and intensity as the story enters its Final Saga.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator, has stated that the upcoming final arc of the story will far surpass the Marineford arc in scale and impact. He was surprised by how much fans enjoyed Marineford, considering he viewed it as a relatively minor story element in comparison to what’s coming.
Considering what the author has said and shown in the story so far, the next arc of One Piece appears to be the largest one yet, potentially even bigger than the Marineford arc. The author has consistently delivered on his promises, so fans have good reason to believe this arc will be exceptional. With the conclusion of the Elbaph arc and the start of the Great War, excitement for what’s coming in One Piece is incredibly high.
New One Piece chapters are available to read every week on Manga Plus.
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2026-05-04 18:36