Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Toei Moves One Piece to Seasonal Two-Cour Schedule, Sets January–March Hiatus and April Return With Elbaf

Producers say the shift is intended to ease production strain.

One Piece anime is going on another long hiatus in 2026 - and that isn't the only big release schedule change that is coming

Overview

  • Beginning in 2026, the anime will release 26 episodes per year split into two cours instead of airing year-round.
  • One Piece will pause broadcasts from January through March 2026 and resume in April with the start of the Elbaf Arc.
  • Series producer Ryūta Koike says the new format is aimed at improving pacing and enabling richer storytelling.
  • Reporting indicates the team plans to adapt roughly one manga chapter per episode, and analysts caution that pacing may not noticeably accelerate if added scenes remain common.
  • The change follows a period of production strain marked by delays, recap slots, and a six-month Egghead hiatus, and it is expected to support more consistent animation even as it lengthens the anime’s overall run.