One Piece: Oda Teases the Road to Laugh Tale After Elbaf — Pirate King’s Island Could Be Reached in 2026
Image : Toei Animation
By
Patel
|
December 22, 2025
One Piece fans have been waiting for this moment for more than two decades. At Jump Festa, Eiichiro Oda dropped one of the most explosive hints of the Final Saga — the journey beyond Elbaf may finally lead the Straw Hats to Laugh Tale, the legendary island only the Pirate King ever reached.
According to Oda, 2026 could mark the year when One Piece returns fully to the present timeline after Elbaf, and possibly begins the road toward Laugh Tale itself. While Oda carefully used words like “might” and “may”, the message was clear: the endgame of One Piece has officially begun.
Oda’s Tease: Leaving Elbaf and Heading Toward Laugh Tale in 2026
Image :Toei Animation
During his Jump Festa announcement, Eiichiro Oda teased that after the Elbaf arc concludes, the story could move toward the island that only Gol D. Roger ever reached — Laugh Tale. While not a hard confirmation, this is the strongest indication yet that Laugh Tale will be reached before the Final War, not after it.
Oda also confirmed that One Piece will return fully to the present storyline in 2026, signaling that Elbaf is acting as a major turning point. This means the mysteries built since the beginning of the series — the One Piece treasure, the Void Century, and the truth of the world — are finally coming into focus.
For years, Laugh Tale has existed as a legend. Roger laughed when he reached it. He learned the truth of the world — but arrived too early. Now, Luffy’s era might finally be ready.
EIICHIRO ODA ABOUT ELBAPH 😲 pic.twitter.com/fyZetdSth4
— Pew (@pewpiece) December 21, 2025
Why Only the Pirate King Reached Laugh Tale — and Why Luffy Might Be Next
Image : Toei Animation
Laugh Tale was never meant to be reached by strength alone. Gol D. Roger made it there because he understood the true path of the Grand Line. He followed the Road Poneglyphs, reached Lodestar Island, and only then uncovered the final coordinates leading to Laugh Tale.
Roger himself stated that no one can reach Laugh Tale without first reaching Lodestar Island, the last known island of the Log Pose route. This detail becomes crucial now. If Oda is teasing Laugh Tale in 2026, it means the Straw Hats must first clear several final requirements:
- Finding the fourth Road Poneglyph
- Encountering The Man Marked by Flames, also Known as The Man with the Burn Scar, who is believed to hold the final key
- Possibly retracing Roger’s steps through Lodestar Island
Whether the Man with the Burn Scar will be an ally or an enemy remains unknown. A battle may be inevitable or Most Dangerous like Four Yonkos. But one thing is clear — Laugh Tale is no longer a distant dream; it is the next destination on the map.
Elbaf as the Final Bridge and What Laugh Tale Changes for One Piece
Image : Toei Animation
Elbaf now stands as the final bridge between the adventure and the truth. It is not just another arc — it is the preparation ground for the end of the world order itself.
If the Straw Hats reach Laugh Tale, it could finally reveal:
- The Void Century flashback
- The true nature of the Ancient Kingdom
- The secret behind Imu Sama
- And the real purpose of the One Piece treasure
Most importantly, Laugh Tale may reveal how Imu can be defeated, setting the stage for the ultimate war at Mary Geoise. This explains why Laugh Tale must come before the Final War, not after it.
With Oda hinting at major character encounters in 2026 — including possible meetings between Luffy and Shanks, Luffy and Dragon, and even Shanks and Blackbeard — the roadmap ahead is clearer than ever.
📢 Let’s Talk!
For the first time in One Piece history, the destination is visible. Laugh Tale is no longer a myth — it is a promise. If 2026 truly marks the journey Laugh Tale, then One Piece is officially entering its final chapter — not in terms of time, but in terms of truth.
The question is no longer what the One Piece is.
The question is — is the world ready for it?
👇 Share your thoughts in the comments below — let’s discuss!
