‘One Piece’ Episode 1178 Release Date, Time, and Where to Watch as the Elbaph Arc Barrels Toward Its Endgame

The ‘One Piece’ anime is closing in on another milestone episode, and fans of the Elbaph Arc already have a date circled on their calendars. Toei Animation has kept the adaptation moving at a steady clip through the back half of 2026, and Episode 1178 is the next stop on that journey.

With the Straw Hats scattered across a warzone and the fallout from recent battles still settling, the timing of this release has become a major talking point across the fandom. Here is everything currently confirmed about when and where to catch the new chapter of the ‘One Piece‘ anime.

When ‘One Piece’ Episode 1178 Premieres in Japan and Beyond

According to the full Elbaph schedule that surfaced online, Episode 1178 is set to air on September 20th, 2026. That places it one week after Episode 1177, which lines up with the arc’s ongoing habit of releasing new installments roughly every seven days.

Recent episodes in this stretch of the story have followed a consistent broadcast pattern in Japan. Episode 1172 premiered on a Sunday in Japan on Fuji TV at 11:15 PM JST, and that late Sunday night slot has remained the anime’s home throughout the arc. Fans expecting Episode 1178 can reasonably plan around that same broadcast window unless a schedule change is announced.

For viewers tracking the international rollout, the Crunchyroll simulcast has also settled into a dependable rhythm. Episode 1176 streamed on Crunchyroll at 7.15 a.m. Pacific and 10.15 a.m. Eastern, which translated to 3.15 p.m. British Summer Time for UK viewers. Barring any last minute changes, Episode 1178 should hit screens around that same Sunday morning window for American and European audiences.

Where to Watch ‘One Piece’ Episode 1178?

International viewers have settled into a predictable two platform pattern for catching new episodes of the Elbaph Arc. One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as long as viewers hold a paid subscription.

For those who are not in those territories, or simply do not have a Crunchyroll membership, there is still a path to the episode. The Elbaph Arc will be available on Netflix on a slight delay for anyone outside Crunchyroll’s supported regions. That gap has become part of the routine for fans who split their viewing between the two services.

That delay has recently stretched to roughly a week. Netflix viewers can expect an episode to land about seven days after its Crunchyroll debut, based on the platform’s ongoing gap behind the simulcast. If that pattern holds, Episode 1178 should reach Netflix subscribers around the following Sunday.

Crunchyroll remains the go to option for anyone wanting to stay as close to the Japanese broadcast as possible. Crunchyroll carries the weekly simulcast of ‘One Piece’ along with its full back catalog of more than a thousand episodes, and it has remained the primary home for the series’ current run throughout the Elbaph arc. Meanwhile, those relying on Netflix will simply need a bit more patience each week.

Inside the Elbaph Arc’s Slower 2026 Release Schedule

Longtime fans have noticed that the anime is not moving at the pace they grew accustomed to in past years. One Piece has already entered its Elbaph Arc with a schedule change for the first time since its debut in 1999, adapting a seasonal format after 26 years of weekly episodes. That shift has reshaped how often new content actually arrives.

The overall episode count for the year reflects that change dramatically. One Piece is reverting to a schedule of 26 episodes per year in 2026, down from the usual total of around 40 or 50 episodes. For an anime that has run for over two decades without pause, that is a significant departure from the norm.

There is a clear reason behind the slowdown, and it has less to do with the anime falling behind and more to do with giving the source material room to breathe. The move has been made to allow the manga further time to stretch ahead of the anime, as well as to fix any pacing issues in the adaptation. Given how dense the Elbaph Arc has become, that extra cushion appears to be a deliberate creative choice rather than a production hiccup.

Structurally, the arc itself is also built differently than past sagas. The Elbaph Arc is set to consist of 26 episodes, split into two parts, or cours, of 13 episodes each. Episode 1178 falls squarely within that second half, putting it in the stretch of episodes tasked with pushing the story toward its climax.

What to Expect as the Elbaph Arc Nears Its Climax

The stakes in Elbaf have been climbing for weeks, and the anime has been building toward a genuine turning point. Recent episodes have shown the Knights of God tightening their grip on the giants’ homeland, with the Straw Hats forced to fight on multiple fronts at once to protect the island and its people.

Loki’s arc has been a particular focus in this stretch of episodes, as his freedom and his growing role in the fight against the Holy Knights have added a new wrinkle to the conflict. With Toei sticking to a one episode per chapter adaptation pace for this arc, viewers can expect Episode 1178 to keep pushing that thread forward rather than jumping ahead.

As Toei Animation continues adapting Eiichiro Oda’s manga at that steady pace, the wait for new installments has become part of the ritual for longtime viewers, and this stretch of the Elbaph Arc has done little to ease the tension. With the giants’ fate hanging in the balance and Imu’s shadow looming over every confrontation, what part of Elbaf’s endgame are you most anxious to see Toei Animation finally bring to the screen in Episode 1178?