What's in this guide
Luffy and the Straw Hats have finally reached the land of giants, and the One Piece Elbaph arc is running now. Here is the full release schedule, where each episode lands first, and why 2026 is moving slower than usual.
One Piece Elbaph Arc Release Schedule
New episodes drop on Crunchyroll every Sunday, then arrive on Netflix the following Saturday, a six-day gap. Episode 1156 opened the arc on April 5, 2026. Episode 1170 landed July 19 on Crunchyroll and July 25 on Netflix, and episode 1172 is dated August 2, 2026.
The Elbaph arc runs 26 episodes total, split into two cours of 13. The first cour wrapped in early July, so the back half is where the arc’s larger conflicts pay off.
Why One Piece Slowed Down in 2026
This is the part long-time viewers noticed immediately. One Piece has cut back to roughly 26 episodes per year, down from the 40 to 50 it used to produce.
The reasoning is straightforward: it gives Eiichiro Oda’s manga room to stay ahead, and it addresses years of complaints about padding and pacing. Fewer episodes with more manga content in each is a trade most viewers have taken willingly, given the alternative was filler.
Twenty-six episodes a year instead of fifty. Fewer episodes, less padding, and a manga buffer that keeps the anime from catching up.
Where the Franchise Stands
One Piece has aired weekly since October 1999 and is past 1,170 episodes. Oda’s manga, first published in 1997, had sold more than 600 million copies globally as of March 2026.
Alongside the main series, Toei released One Piece Heroines on July 5, a standalone special centred on Nami. She returns a pair of ill-fitting shoes and meets their designer, who offers to make her a new pair if she will model them. It is a lighter, fashion-led detour from the main story.
Where to Watch the One Piece Elbaph Arc
You can watch the One Piece Elbaph arc on Crunchyroll first, included with a subscription, across North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Netflix carries episodes on a six-day delay and is the option in territories Crunchyroll does not cover.
Netflix also streams the live-action adaptation, whose second season premiered in March 2026, and will host the upcoming Wit Studio remake.
Is the Elbaph Arc Worth Catching Up For?
Elbaph has been built up for well over a decade, since the Straw Hats first met giants back in Little Garden, so this is payoff rather than a detour. The reduced episode count also means it is denser than recent arcs, with less standing around.
If you have fallen behind, this is a reasonable place to catch up to, because the arc functions as a fairly clean starting block within the final saga.
One Piece Elbaph Arc FAQ
When do new One Piece episodes come out?
Sundays on Crunchyroll, then the following Saturday on Netflix. Episode 1172 is dated August 2, 2026.
How many episodes is the Elbaph arc?
Twenty-six, split into two cours of thirteen. The first cour finished in early July 2026.
Why is One Piece releasing fewer episodes?
Toei cut back to around 26 episodes a year to give the manga more of a buffer and to reduce pacing problems. It is a deliberate quality decision rather than a production issue.
Is One Piece on Netflix or Crunchyroll?
Both. Crunchyroll gets episodes first, Netflix follows six days later. Netflix also has the live-action series.
What is One Piece Heroines?
A standalone special that premiered July 5, 2026, focused on Nami. It is separate from the main Elbaph storyline.
Do I need to watch 1,100 episodes first?
Not necessarily all of them, but Elbaph pays off setup laid down across the series. Skipping straight here means missing why the giants matter.
For more anime streaming now, see our guides to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.
Also worth reading: our guide to The One Piece remake.
