One Piece May Have Wrapped Up Its 26-Year Run, But It Will Return to Fulfill a Nearly 25-Year-Old Promise

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I watched as One Piece concluded its incredible 26-year journey on December 28, 2025. But the end isn’t really the end – the anime is coming back next year, and it’s going to deliver on a promise Eiichiro Oda made to fans almost 25 years ago! One Piece is famous for its complex, connected story, and Oda often sets things up far in advance. The series is full of hidden clues about big events and characters, and it turns out he started building towards a particular storyline way back in June 2001, in Episode 71.

The episode titled “A Huge Duel! Giant Dorry and Brogy” first introduced the world to giants and the mythical island of Elbaph. Inspired by these powerful warriors, the Straw Hat pirates made a promise to one day visit this incredible land. Now, after nearly 25 years within the story, that promise is about to come true. The end of One Piece has officially confirmed that Elbaph will be the crew’s next destination. When the anime returns in 2026, it will begin by fulfilling this long-awaited goal, taking fans on the Straw Hats’ adventure to the land of the giants.

One Piece’s Anime Return in 2026 Will Begin With the Elbaph Arc, an Adventure 25 Years in the Making

The next story arc in One Piece will be the long-awaited Elbaph arc, and we’ve already gotten a glimpse of what’s to come! The anime returns on April 5th, kicking off this grand new adventure with hints that someone is expecting the Straw Hat crew to arrive in Elbaph. After nearly 25 years, this arc promises to be incredibly important. It has the potential to be one of the best arcs yet, as the story gets more complex and characters’ backstories are revealed.

The upcoming arc set in the land of the giants promises stunning visuals, but it’s also important because it will likely reveal more about Luffy’s incredibly powerful Gear Five transformation and how it relates to the legends of Nika and Joy Boy. We can also expect to see more of the enigmatic character Loki, who has been hinted at throughout the series, and the return of Luffy’s giant friends, Hajrudin and his crew, all within this expansive new location.

Because of Shanks’ connection to Elbaph, we might see more of the Red-Haired Pirates and learn more about him. But the biggest reason an Elbaph arc could be amazing is that it will likely be a crucial step towards the end of the One Piece story. When the anime returns in 2026, it will finally deliver on a plot point hinted at for almost 25 years and could start bringing all the series’ mysteries together as we head towards the finale.

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2025-12-30 00:13