Table of contents
There are some events that the One Piece community has literally been waiting years for, and the arrival of the Elbaf arc in the anime is clearly one of them. , episode 1170 finally marks the great leap to the land of the giants, just a few weeks after the release of season 2 of the Netflix live-action series. Between the new release schedule imposed by Toei Animation, the aftermath of the Egghead arc, and anticipation surrounding revelations about Joy Boy and the Void Century, here's everything you need to know so you don't miss a thing. Approximately 8 minutes of reading.
Episode 1170: the date all fans had been waiting for
A two-stage release, between simulcast streaming and Netflix
Episode 1170, the first canon episode of the Elbaf arc, arrives on July 19, 2026, at 8 p.m. on ADN and Crunchyroll, simultaneously with its Japanese broadcast. Netflix subscribers will have to wait a little longer, as the episode will be available there on July 25, following the platform's usual delay for new anime releases. For the most impatient fans, this slight delay is reminiscent of the one seen with the release of season 2 of the live-action series, when the wait also fueled conversations across social media.
Why this episode is a true turning point for the series
After the spectacular conclusion of the Egghead arc, the Straw Hat crew finally sets sail for Elbaf, the island of giants teased in the manga for nearly a decade. This is not merely a change of scenery: Elbaf shapes a significant part of the series' mythology, with legendary warriors, echoes of the Void Century, and confirmation of the community's oldest theories.
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Elbaf, the arc the community has been waiting for years to see
A kingdom of giant warriors, between legends and politics
Elbaf is the homeland of the giants in One Piece, a kingdom governed by ancient codes of honor where strength and one's word count above all else. The crew arrives there with a precise objective: find Luffy after his Gear 5 transformation and continue the quest toward Laugh Tale, while also dealing with Loki, a central and particularly feared figure in this land. This name has been circulating in the community for years, even though no one has been able to see much of him on screen, which partly explains the excitement surrounding his first animated appearance. Our page on One Piece arcs in chronological order places Elbaf perfectly within the story's overall narrative, alongside the page dedicated to the Straw Hat crew. To wait in style before discovering this kingdom on screen, our classic Jolly Roger poster is right at home on any fan's wall.
The direct continuation of the Egghead revelations
It's impossible to talk about Elbaf without revisiting what the Egghead arc established as a foundation: the identity of the Sun God Nika, the connection to the fruit copied by Jewelry Bonney, and the secrets of the World Government that remain locked away. Many manga readers see Elbaf as the arc that will finally bring all these threads together, which explains much of the excitement surrounding its anime adaptation.
Did you know?
Elbaf is first mentioned in the manga as early as the Water Seven arc, more than twenty years before its actual arrival on screen. Few shonen arcs have been teased for so long before their adaptation.
A new broadcast format that changes everything
26 episodes per year, divided into two cours
Toei Animation used the launch of Elbaf to make a structural change to the anime's broadcast schedule: the continuous weekly schedule throughout the year is over, replaced by seasons of 26 episodes, themselves divided into two cours. The first part of the Elbaf arc introduces this new format, designed to give production more time between each block of episodes and potentially tighten the adaptation around the manga's major moments rather than multiplying filler episodes.
What this concretely changes for viewers
In practical terms, fans will have to get used to longer breaks between broadcast blocks, in a format similar to that of many Western seasonal series. This pace also brings to mind the one adopted by the Netflix live-action series, which also runs in spaced-out seasons. This turns the wait between two cours into a new ritual for the community, involving rereading the manga and exploring figures and merchandise while waiting for what comes next.
⚓ Fan favorite
One Piece Figure — Monkey D. Luffy Gear 5 Nika (Smoke Effect)
34,99 €
The Sun God transformed into a collectible figure, smoke effect included. The ideal companion while waiting for Elbaf.
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Manga vs. anime: where do we really stand in July 2026?
A manga already well into the arc
As always with One Piece, the manga maintains a comfortable lead over the anime: Eiichiro Oda has already been exploring Elbaf for several months, releasing almost one chapter per week, with a break of about one week each month. The anime, meanwhile, is only setting foot on the island with episode 1170. For viewers who follow only the anime, this is an opportunity to discover this arc without knowing all the twists to come.
How to avoid spoilers while waiting for the next episodes
Between social media and highly active manga communities, avoiding spoilers requires a little discipline. Many fans choose to focus on non-story content while waiting for what comes next: theories about the Void Century, revisiting past arcs such as Wano, or building a collection of figurines and Funko Pops rather than searching through the latest released chapters. It is also often an opportunity to test your knowledge with our One Piece quiz, or to consult our guide to Devil Fruits and Haki to revisit the classics without risking the slightest premature revelation. Some also take the opportunity to complete their collection with the Gear 5 Nika figurine in free combat stance, a piece that fits perfectly alongside a copy of the most recent volume.
Experience the wait like a true fan
Between two broadcast courses, many fans are taking advantage of the break to complete their collection or revisit the arcs that led up to Elbaf. Our merchandise guide helps you find your way among the figures, posters, and clothing before getting started, while our One Piece glossary lets you quickly look up the meaning of a term heard in an episode.
Show off your hype before the big leap to Elbaf
There’s nothing like a crew-themed T-shirt to pass the time until July 19 — our guide to must-have designs helps you make your choice. Our One Piece T-shirt collection and our selection of Pop figures offer something for everyone, from the understated fan to the proud collector. Luffy diehards will also find an entire world dedicated to him in our Luffy Store and our selection of Luffy Figures, alongside our article on the new Gear 5 models.
What if you updated your card collection?
The wait between two cours is also the perfect time to explore our official One Piece card collection, which has been particularly lively since the latest expansions focused on the series' major arcs. Our broader catalog of One Piece merchandise also makes it easy to find the perfect piece to mark the series' grand return in 2026, while our article on Film Red reminds us that Elbaf is just one more adaptation in an already very rich on-screen universe.
Luffy One Piece T-Shirt — Straw Hat Design
★★★★★ — The fans' favorite before the grand departure
44,99 €
The crew's signature design, from S to 2XL, to show your passion while waiting for episode 1170.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Elbaf arc's arrival in the anime.
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