At the recent Jump Festa 2026, a prominent annual gathering for anime and manga enthusiasts sponsored by Shueisha, the spotlight was once again on the globally celebrated franchise, One Piece. While the event featured fewer groundbreaking announcements than anticipated, the series’ creator, Eiichiro Oda, offered a tantalizing hint about the crew's journey, suggesting that the elusive island of Laugh Tale, where the legendary One Piece treasure awaits, might finally be within reach in the upcoming year. This revelation marks a pivotal moment for fans eagerly following the Straw Hat Pirates' epic quest.
The Jump Festa program was packed with exciting news for various popular series. Attendees were treated to a stunning preview for "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run" and the announcement of a special anime episode for "My Hero Academia," which will adapt a previously unadapted final chapter from its manga. For One Piece, the segment began with a touching retrospective on Tony Tony Chopper, the beloved doctor of the Straw Hat crew, highlighting his memorable moments. This was followed by a playful competition among the anime's voice actors to dub Chopper in the upcoming live-action adaptation, ultimately confirming Ikue Otani, his original voice actor, for the Japanese Netflix dub. The event also unveiled a teaser for the new Elbaph Arc in the anime, slated to commence on April 5, 2026.
Fans eagerly anticipate Eiichiro Oda's annual message at Jump Festa, which often contains cryptic clues about the manga's future. This year, Oda's message, as translated by @sandmap_AP on X, provided significant insights. He hinted at challenges in the progress of an upcoming anime film but urged fans to be patient. Regarding the manga, Oda mentioned returning to the present storyline after an extensive flashback to Elbaf, promising a "flashy" conclusion to that arc. More importantly, he declared, "We are heading to that island which only the Pirate King was ever able to reach!!?" This strongly implies the Straw Hats' journey toward Laugh Tale, the island where Gol D. Roger left his treasure. He also teased the appearance of a "man marked by flame" and unexpected character encounters, suggesting a "festival of encounters" in the coming year. Oda affirmed his commitment to maintaining the series' high-speed progression while balancing his health.
The most compelling part of Oda's message is undoubtedly the reference to the island accessible only by the Pirate King. This strongly points to Laugh Tale, the final destination for those seeking the One Piece treasure, reachable only by deciphering the four Road Poneglyphs. Gol D. Roger and his crew were the last known individuals to set foot on this island. Therefore, Oda’s hint suggests that 2026 could be the year fans finally get a glimpse of the treasure or at least its location, marking a monumental step toward the series' conclusion.
The year 2026 is poised to be transformative for the One Piece franchise. The anime is transitioning to a seasonal production model, aiming to enhance quality by releasing 26 episodes annually. While a remake by Studio WIT is in production, its release date remains unannounced. Furthermore, the second season of the live-action series is set to debut in March, with a third season already confirmed. The manga itself continues its march toward an epic finale, fortunately still several years away, promising more adventures and revelations for its dedicated global fanbase.
