ONE PIECE Creator Reveals The Series Is Closer to the End Than Ever as The Story Accelerates
One Piece has officially been in its Final Saga for a few years now, and the legendary manga is heading toward its conclusion faster than fans might have expected, and creator Eiichiro Oda has now confirmed that the pace is about to pick up in a big way as the story barrels toward its endgame.
The Final Saga kicked off in 2022 with the Egghead Arc, signaling that the journey readers have followed for decades had entered its last chapter. Since then, long-running mysteries have started to crack open, key theories are being addressed, and the narrative has been lining up the pieces needed for a big finale.
That momentum was front and center during Shueisha’s Jump Festa 2026 event in Japan, where Oda shared a special message teasing what’s coming next.
According to him, the manga is about to move at a “breakneck speed,” with next year shaping up to be packed with major revelations and long-awaited character encounters that push the story closer to its conclusion.
“After what you could call a very long flashback, or at least a little glimpse into history that I’m sure has given you a different perspective on Elbaph, we ended things with a bang, a now things are about to get crazy,” One Piece series creator Eiichiro Oda began.
“Will we get to the island that only King of the Pirates had previously reached? ‘The man with the burn scar’ will appear! Characters who’d never met before will finally meet! Another pair of characters will come face to face! I think next year will be a year of encounters.”
So, the story is shifting into high gear. Oda also took a moment to reassure readers who’ve been concerned about his workload and health, while making it clear that the faster pace doesn’t mean cutting corners.
“The story will be moving at a breakneck speed, but since I’ve aged—much to my chagrin—I’ll take the liberty of maintaining my own health as we continue sailing next year at the fastest One Piece speed. Festivities ahead! Get ready for a spectacular year!”
Even with that acceleration, it seems like there’s an enormous amount of story left to tell. Luffy and the Straw Hats aren’t anywhere near claiming the One Piece yet, and Oda’s hints about an island only the King of the Pirates reached could be pointing toward Laugh Tale or possibly the mysterious Lodestar Island mentioned in past flashbacks. Either way, the destination is finally coming into focus.
Beyond that, big holes in the story still need to be filled. The Void Century remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in the series, and the shape of the final war is still a mystery. If that ultimate conflict mirrors the scale of arcs like Wano or Marineford, it could easily take several years on its own to fully unfold.
So while One Piece is speeding up, it isn’t slamming the brakes on just yet. The end is closer than ever, but Oda is clearly intent on making sure every major beat lands.