Say Goodbye to One Piece On January 18 (Return Date Confirmed)

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This article contains spoilers for the One Piece manga.

Over the past few decades, One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, is arguably the most popular manga series. It’s been running since 1997, but recently the release schedule has slowed down. Starting in 2024, Oda has been taking more frequent breaks from creating new chapters.

It’s become clear that January 2026 is shaping up to be a short month for One Piece fans. With chapter 1171 releasing this week, another break is scheduled to begin immediately after. This means chapter 1172 won’t be out until early February – a delay of two weeks. While this January feels a bit disappointing, fans are used to this pattern, as breaks often happen during the winter months each year.

One Piece Is Going On Break After One Piece Chapter 1171

  • New One Piece Break Starts January 18, 2026

One Piece has had several recent pauses, but it’s scheduled to come back on January 18, 2026. Chapter 1171 will finally be released after a long wait, which fans are really looking forward to. However, many were disappointed to learn that the manga will go on another break immediately after its return with this chapter. This is surprising because One Piece has been consistently pausing for the past two months, and fans hoped Chapter 1171 would signal an end to the breaks.

The manga will be taking a break immediately after the next chapter is released. Fans can expect it to be on hiatus starting January 18, 2026, before it returns the following month.

One Piece Returns With Chapter 1172 On February 1st, 2026

Image via Toei Animation.

I’ve noticed there have been quite a few breaks in the release schedule lately. Luckily, fans know when to expect the next chapter. The current break starts on January 18th, 2026, and it looks like we won’t see a new chapter until two weeks later. That means January will be completely without new One Piece content, with chapter 1171 being the last one for the month. We can mark February 1st, 2026, as the release date for chapter 1172.

One Piece Only Received Two Official Releases In January 2026

Image via Shonen Jump.
  • Breaks Were Due to Oda And Weekly Shonen Jump

The past couple of months have been frustrating for One Piece fans. The series had several breaks in December 2025 and January 2026, which happens every year. These breaks aren’t due to the author, Eiichiro Oda, but because Weekly Shonen Jump, the magazine that publishes One Piece, takes holiday breaks in Japan. Oda has no control over these magazine schedules. The most recent delay for chapter 1171 was also a result of the magazine’s holiday break.

I’ve been following the news about One Piece chapter 1172, and it looks like the delay isn’t due to anything unexpected – it’s just that Oda-sensei is taking a well-deserved break. He usually takes time off about every three weeks, and this fits right into that pattern. He doesn’t adjust his schedule around the magazine’s breaks, so the wait will definitely feel a bit longer for fans. Considering he’s given us three chapters straight without a break, it’s absolutely time for him to rest up!

The manga One Piece will conclude its January serialization with just two official chapters. And because one of those chapters was leaked ahead of schedule, readers who follow scan releases effectively only received one new chapter in January 2026.

It’s understandable that Oda takes frequent breaks. Creating manga is incredibly demanding work and impacts his health. As he gets older, Oda needs more time to rest and recover.

A few years ago, Eiichiro Oda could manage working with very few breaks, but his current workload makes that impossible now.

I understand Eiichiro Oda wants to prioritize spending more time with his family. He’s mentioned before how incredibly busy he is, often sacrificing sleep and meals just to keep up with work. It seems like fans will need to be patient and understand that these breaks, while happening more often around the new year and holidays, are temporary. We can likely expect things to return to the regular schedule in February. Honestly, even though it’s tough waiting, these breaks are probably a good thing for the longevity of One Piece, so it’s not all bad news.

What’s Next In The One Piece Manga?

  • The Elbaf Arc Continues, And The Flashback Will End Soon

It’s always tough when new episodes of One Piece are delayed, but the wait feels especially long after the incredible events unfolding in the Elbaf arc. Since it began, Elbaf has been packed with action and delivered amazing content every week. Creator Eiichiro Oda has revealed a wealth of fascinating backstory, including details about the Harley mural, the Holy Knights, Imu, and the complete story of the God Valley Incident, all within this arc.

The story is set to become even more intense in 2026. Fans have recently learned Loki’s complete history, including how it relates to his father, Harald, and Harald’s desire for Elbaf to negotiate with the World Government.

The flashback is wrapping up, and the story will soon return to Luffy and his crew. While the flashback has been thrilling, a major battle is coming in Elbaf. Imu, the Holy Knights, and the Giants are all waiting, and fans are eager to see what happens. Many are particularly excited to learn more about Loki, the Prince of Elbaf, and Oda is expected to showcase his powers soon.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. A new chapter, 1171, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It will be available on January 18, 2026, at 12 AM Japan Standard Time, 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, directly supporting the creator.

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2026-01-14 11:05