Big news hit the internet this week: “One Piece Season 1 has ended after 26 years and over 1,000 episodes.” Many fans panicked, thinking the series was over. Relax – One Piece is not ending. The show is simply changing its release format starting in 2026.

Here’s what actually happened and what it means for Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates.

Episode 1155: The End of an Era

On December 28, 2025, Episode 1155 aired – the finale of the Egghead Arc. This was the last episode in the long-running weekly format that began in October 1999. After more than 1,155 episodes aired almost every Sunday for 26 years, the anime is taking a break to prepare for a new schedule.

What Changes in 2026?

• Seasonal release: Instead of weekly episodes all year, the anime will now release in “cours” (blocks of ~12–13 episodes) with breaks in between.
• First new season: Returns in April 2026 with the Elbaf Arc.
• Pacing & quality: More time for production should mean better animation, fewer filler episodes, and closer alignment with the manga.
• Total episodes: Still counting up – no final season yet. The manga is in its final saga, but the end is likely years away.

Why the Change?

Toei Animation wants to improve quality and avoid burnout. The old weekly schedule led to rushed episodes and occasional filler. Seasonal format has worked well for shows like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Attack on Titan – fans get tighter storytelling and higher production values.

Clearing Up the Confusion

The “Season 1 ended” headlines are mostly fan jokes and clickbait. One Piece has never officially used season numbers – it’s always been one continuous story. Calling the last 26 years “Season 1” is a humorous way to mark the shift to a new release style.

What Fans Are Saying

• Excited: “Finally, no more bad pacing and filler!”
• Sad: “Weekly One Piece Sundays were a tradition…”
• Confused: “Wait, is the anime actually over??”

The Straw Hats are still sailing – just taking slightly longer breaks between adventures.

When to Expect the Next Episode

• Episode 1156: April 2026 (Elbaf Arc begins)
• Likely 12–13 episodes in the first cour, then another break before cour 2.

So keep your pirate flag flying! One Piece isn’t ending – it’s just getting a well-deserved upgrade.

What do you think of the format change? Are you happy or do you miss weekly episodes? Drop your thoughts in the comments & stay tuned with FilmBuzzr!