Significant changes are on the horizon for the long-running One Piece series, as the anime is scheduled to go on a hiatus in 2026. The beloved animated show, which debuted in 1999 and has produced over 1,100 episodes, will not only take a short break from airing new content but will also implement a new release pattern upon its return.

One Piece anime to go on a break soon

On October 28, the official YouTube channel of One Piece streamed a 42-minute broadcast, where Toei Animation, the studio behind the cherished series, confirmed that the anime will enter a three-month production hiatus from January to March 2026.

Consequently, the series will resume airing new episodes in April 2026, starting with the first cour of the Elbaph arc.

One Piece to release a maximum of 26 episodes per year starting from April 2026

In addition to the hiatus, One Piece is adopting an updated release pattern that will lead to a significant reduction in the annual episode count. Instead of releasing a new episode weekly, One Piece will now be limited to a maximum of 26 episodes per year starting in 2026.

The rationale behind this substantial change is to improve the coherence of the long-running anime’s narrative, which has seen a notable increase in filler episodes and repetitive recaps in recent years. According to series producer Ryūta Koike, this change is a “strategic decision to support the advancement and evolution of the anime series.”

Further elaborating on the necessity for this adjustment, Toei stated, “The anime is based on the manga, and historically, 11-12 episodes would cover 4-5 volumes of the manga. Moving forward, under the two-cours structure, new episodes will include more content, tempo, and pacing of the manga while continuing to utilize the unique storytelling that animation allows.”

Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on SuperHeroHype.