One Piece fans have to wait until next year. Episode 1180, aired September 27, was the last episode of 2026, ending on a cliffhanger in Elbaph, and Toei only says the anime returns in 2027. In return, Crunchyroll is rolling out the first 746 episodes in Southeast Asia.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Last episode of 2026 | Episode 1180, aired September 27, 2026 on Fuji TV |
| Return | 2027, no month announced |
| 2026 season | 25 episodes (1156 to 1180), Elbaph arc |
| Sunday slot replacement | Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, from October 11, 2026 |
| Crunchyroll Southeast Asia | Episodes 1 to 325 now, 326 to 746 from October 25, 2026 |
Episode 1180 ends 2026 on a cliffhanger
Episode 1180, “Elbaph in Despair - Diabolical Covenant, Domi Reversi” (Japanese: 絶望のエルバフ 悪魔の契約〝黒転支配〟), aired at 11:15 p.m. on September 27, 2026 on Fuji TV and streamed the same day on Crunchyroll. It is the 25th episode of the 2026 season, which began with episode 1156 on April 5.
The episode adapts material around chapter 1150 of the manga, as Imu, possessing Holy Knight Gunko, reveals what Imu can do. Comicbook.com called it a massive cliffhanger to close the first part of the Elbaph arc.
Right after the episode aired, the official One Piece account wrote that the next episode airs in 2027 and that the exact timing will be announced later. Some sites guess April 2027, matching this year’s schedule, but that is not official.
Why is the break so long?
The schedule was announced in advance. At the One Piece News livestream on October 28, 2025, Toei and producer Ryūta Koike said that from 2026 the anime would make at most 26 episodes a year, split into two cours. Toei said the format follows the manga’s content, rhythm and pacing, at roughly one chapter per episode, with recaps removed.
In 2026 the anime already paused for the first three months after the Egghead arc, returning with Elbaph on April 5. This time the break runs into next year.
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus takes over from October 11
The Sunday 11:15 p.m. Fuji TV slot now belongs to Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, an enhanced remake of Dragon Ball Super, from October 11, 2026. It reconstructs the story with redrawn and new scenes.
Crunchyroll adds 746 One Piece episodes in Southeast Asia
As the anime goes on break, Crunchyroll announced on September 29 that episodes 1 to 325 of One Piece are now available in Southeast Asia, with episodes 326 to 746 arriving on October 25, 2026, all with English subtitles and English dub.
The announcement only says Southeast Asia and does not list individual countries, so check your local Crunchyroll catalog.
What else is coming for One Piece?
- Manga: a one-week break after chapter 1194, with chapter 1195 on October 11, 2026.
- The One Piece: WIT Studio’s remake on Netflix premieres in February 2027, with 7 episodes covering about the first 50 chapters.
- Films: One Piece Film God Valley in summer 2027 and One Piece Film BAAD in 2029.
- Live action: Netflix’s season 3 is slated for 2027.
OtaHub’s take
With a 26-episode yearly schedule, long breaks are now normal for One Piece. In return, each episode follows the manga more closely and feels less stretched. If you ever dropped One Piece, this is a good time to catch up, especially with Crunchyroll opening nearly 750 episodes and The One Piece remake on the way.
FAQ
When does the One Piece anime return?
In 2027. The official One Piece account only said the next episode airs in 2027 and that the exact timing will be announced later; no month has been given.
Why is the One Piece anime on break?
Since 2026, Toei makes at most 26 episodes a year in two cours, to match the manga’s pacing at roughly one chapter per episode. The 2026 season had 25 episodes, from episode 1156 (April 5) to 1180 (September 27).
Which countries get the new One Piece episodes on Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll’s announcement only says Southeast Asia and does not list countries. The episodes come with English subtitles and English dub.
Is the One Piece manga on break?
The manga took a one-week break after chapter 1194, and chapter 1195 releases on October 11, 2026 on MANGA Plus.
Sources: One Piece (X @Eiichiro_Staff), Toei Animation, Anime News Network, Anime Corner, Comicbook.com, Tokyohive, Kanzenshuu, Interaksyon, One More Game, MANGA Plus.