In what order should you watch One Piece? Anime, sagas, films, and episodes in 2026
More than a thousand episodes, dozens of arcs, 15 films, special episodes, and now a new adaptation: starting One Piece can feel intimidating.
However, the viewing order is much simpler than it seems. The main story almost always follows a linear progression: just start with Monkey D. Luffy in East Blue and continue through the major sagas in order.
Here is our complete guide to knowing in what order to watch One Piece, which films are optional, which episodes can be skipped, and where the new Erbaf arc fits in 2026.
To discover One Piece properly, simply start with episode 1 of the original 1999 anime, then watch the different sagas in their broadcast order.
The films are not essential to understanding the main story. So you can simply watch East Blue → Alabasta → Skypiea → Water 7 → Thriller Bark → Summit War → Fish-Man Island → Dressrosa → Whole Cake Island → Wano → Egghead → Erbaf.
The One Piece saga order at a glance
To follow only the main story of Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew, here is the general order.
1. East Blue Saga
The beginning of the adventure: Luffy gradually recruits Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji before heading for the Grand Line.
2. Alabasta Saga
The crew enters the Grand Line, meets Vivi, and finds itself up against the Baroque Works organization.
3. Skypiea Saga
The adventure leads the Straw Hats to a mysterious sky island.
4. Water 7 Saga
Water Seven, CP9, and Enies Lobby form one of the most beloved periods of the series.
5. Thriller Bark Saga
The crew discovers a huge ghost ship and meets Brook in particular.
6. Summit War Saga
Sabaody, Amazon Lily, Impel Down, and Marineford take the story into a whole new dimension.
7. Fish-Man Island Saga
After a major time skip, the crew reunites and finally sets off to explore the depths of the ocean.
8. Dressrosa Saga
Punk Hazard, then Dressrosa, set Luffy on the path toward Doflamingo and the great powers of the New World.
9. Whole Cake Island Saga
Zou, Whole Cake Island, and the Reverie set the stage for the immense upheavals to come.
10. Wano Country Saga
The Straw Hats face one of the greatest obstacles of their entire adventure.
11. Egghead Arc
The crew arrives on the futuristic island of Egghead and meets the mysterious Dr. Vegapunk.
12. Erbaf Arc
Since April 2026, Luffy and his companions have finally reached the legendary land of the giants.
these episode ranges sometimes include a few filler episodes, recaps, or special episodes. If you want to watch strictly the story adapted from the manga, also check our section on fillers below.
1. East Blue: where Luffy’s adventure begins
It all begins with Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of finding the legendary One Piece and becoming the Pirate King.
East Blue is above all where we gradually discover the heart of the crew.
Luffy and Zoro
Luffy begins his journey and meets Roronoa Zoro, a formidable swordsman who dreams of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman.
Buggy enters the scene
Luffy faces one of the saga’s most recurring characters.
Usopp
The crew’s future sniper gradually joins the adventure.
Sanji
The floating restaurant Baratie introduces the cook Sanji and a particularly important opponent.
Nami’s story
One of One Piece’s first truly emotional arcs reveals Nami’s past.
Heading for Grand Line
Luffy visits the town where Gol D. Roger was executed before continuing his immense journey.
Do you want to join the crew too?
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and the other members of the Straw Hat crew have left their mark on several generations of fans.
Rediscover the energy of Grand Line in our collection of One Piece wall art.
Discover One Piece wall art2. Alabasta: the first great adventure on Grand Line
After East Blue, the crew enters Grand Line.
This saga greatly expands the world of One Piece with Reverse Mountain, Whisky Peak, Little Garden, Drum, then Alabasta.
Vivi and Baroque Works
Luffy discovers a secret organization threatening the kingdom of Alabasta.
Chopper joins the adventure
The Drum arc introduces Tony Tony Chopper and one of the most moving stories from the beginning of the series.
Crocodile
The Alabasta conflict brings Luffy face to face with an opponent on a whole new level.
A Greater Adventure
From Alabasta onward, One Piece clearly shows that its world goes far beyond a simple pirate story.
3. Skypiea: should you watch this arc?
Yes. Skypiea is sometimes wrongly presented as an adventure that could be skipped.
Yet the arc develops several important elements around the world’s history, the Poneglyphs, and certain mysteries that make much more sense much later.
The saga begins with Jaya before leading the crew to the sky islands.
do not skip Skypiea. Even when some elements seem isolated on a first watch, they contribute to the overall construction of the universe imagined by Eiichiro Oda.
4. Water 7 and Enies Lobby: a major turning point
For many fans, the Water 7 saga is one of the strongest periods in One Piece.
The crew goes through a major crisis, CP9 enters the scene, and Nico Robin’s story takes on considerable importance.
Water Seven
A spectacular city where the crew seeks to repair or replace its ship.
Enies Lobby
The Straw Hats directly confront a major institution of the World Government.
Franky
The saga introduces a new character who will become essential to the journey.
5. Thriller Bark: ghosts, zombies, and a new companion
Thriller Bark offers a much darker atmosphere, with mansions, zombies, stolen shadows, and strange creatures.
The arc notably introduces Brook, the skeleton musician who will also become a member of the Straw Hats.
It also directly sets up several major events that will follow at Sabaody.
6. Summit War: Sabaody, Impel Down, and Marineford
From Sabaody onward, One Piece suddenly shifts to a much larger scale.
Luffy discovers just how far he still is from the New World and the powers that dominate the seas.
The Supernovas
A new generation of promising pirates makes its debut.
Boa Hancock
Luffy arrives on an island forbidden to men and meets one of the saga’s major figures.
The underwater prison
Luffy undertakes a particularly dangerous mission in the heart of the World Government’s great prison.
The Summit War
Pirates, the Navy, and legendary figures come together in one of the most important events in One Piece.
7. The New World: from Fish-Man Island to Whole Cake Island
After the time skip, the Straw Hats reunite at Sabaody before finally setting course for the New World.
Fish-Man Island
The crew shows the results of its training while discovering the complex history of the Fish-Men.
Punk Hazard
Luffy meets Trafalgar Law, and a new alliance begins to disrupt the balance of the New World.
Dressrosa
Luffy faces Donquixote Doflamingo in a massive battle that will have major consequences.
Zou
The crew arrives on an extraordinary island carried by a gigantic elephant.
Whole Cake Island
Luffy enters Big Mom's territory to find Sanji.
Reverie
The world's great leaders gather as the political balance becomes increasingly fragile.
8. Wano: one of the greatest sagas in One Piece
The Land of Wano is one of the longest and most spectacular periods in the anime.
Samurai, pirates, Emperors, and major revelations come together in a story that profoundly changes Luffy's status.
The animation also reaches a particularly ambitious level during the major battles of Onigashima.
if you haven't finished Wano, avoid Google searches about Luffy, Kaido, or the different transformations. This part of the story contains several major revelations.
9. Final Saga: Egghead then Elbaf
After Wano, One Piece officially enters a new phase of its story.
Egghead
Luffy and his crew arrive on the futuristic island associated with the brilliant Dr. Vegapunk.
The arc develops many mysteries surrounding the World Government, the history of the world, and several major powers.
Elbaf
Since April 2026, the Straw Hats have reached the legendary island of giants.
This destination had been mentioned many years earlier in the story, making it one of the most anticipated arcs.
starting in 2026, the anime is adopting a different pace, with two broadcast periods and a maximum of 26 new episodes per year.
More than 25 years of adventure... and still the same desire to set sail
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, or the whole crew together: choose your favorite character to bring a true manga spirit to your bedroom, office, or gaming space.
Discover the One Piece collection View all Manga wall artWhat order should you watch the One Piece movies in?
Good news: you don't need the films to understand the main story.
They are mainly side adventures and are therefore optional.
If you still want to include them in your marathon, here is the simplest order.
| # | Film | When to watch it? | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Piece: The Movie | After the beginning of East Blue | No |
| 2 | Clockwork Island Adventure | After East Blue | No |
| 3 | Chopper's Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals | After Chopper's arrival | No |
| 4 | Dead End Adventure | After Alabasta | No |
| 5 | The Cursed Holy Sword | After Skypiea | No |
| 6 | Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island | Before Water 7 | No |
| 7 | The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle | Before Enies Lobby | No |
| 8 | Episode of Alabasta | Alternative summary of the Alabasta arc | No |
| 9 | Episode of Chopper Plus | Alternative version of Drum | No |
| 10 | Strong World | After Thriller Bark | Recommended |
| 11 | Straw Hat Chase | Before the time skip | No |
| 12 | One Piece Film: Z | After Fish-Man Island | Recommended |
| 13 | One Piece Film: Gold | After Dressrosa | Recommended |
| 14 | One Piece: Stampede | After Whole Cake Island | No |
| 15 | One Piece Film: Red | Ideally after Wano to avoid spoilers | Recommended |
Above all, remember Strong World → Film Z → Film Gold → Stampede → Film Red. They remain optional, but they are the major cinematic milestones of the modern franchise.
Can you watch One Piece without the fillers?
Yes. A filler is an episode or mini-arc created for the anime that does not directly adapt the manga's main story.
You can therefore generally skip them if your goal is to move through the story more quickly.
Warship Island
An extra adventure set toward the end of East Blue. It is not necessary for the main story.
G-8
Technically filler, but often considered one of the anime's best original arcs.
Z's Ambition
These episodes mainly serve as a transition into One Piece Film: Z.
Silver Mine
Mini-arc linked to the period before One Piece Film: Gold.
Cidre Guild
Episodes tied to the promotion of One Piece: Stampede.
Uta's past
Episodes 1029 and 1030 develop Uta in connection with One Piece Film: Red.
For a first watch, don't try to remove every second that isn't from the manga. Some fillers, like G-8, are especially appreciated and also let you enjoy more time with the crew.
When should you watch One Piece Fan Letter?
ONE PIECE FAN LETTER is a special episode created to celebrate the anime's 25th anniversary.
The story takes place two years after Marineford and shows the Straw Hats' reunion in Sabaody through the eyes of ordinary characters.
To avoid any spoilers, the best time is therefore to watch it after the crew reunion, around episode 522.
No, but it offers a different and especially human perspective on the impact of Luffy and his crew in the world of One Piece.
THE ONE PIECE: should you wait for the Netflix remake?
A new adaptation titled THE ONE PIECE is currently being produced by WIT Studio.
THE ONE PIECE
This new series will start again from the very beginning of the story and offer a new adaptation of the East Blue saga.
The first season will include seven episodes for around five hours of programming and will adapt the first chapters of the manga up to the Baratie period.
Original anime or THE ONE PIECE?
If you want to start today, don't wait. The original anime remains the most complete way to follow the entire adventure up to Elbaf.
THE ONE PIECE will instead offer a new entry point from 2027, with a more condensed pace and entirely new animation.
Where to watch One Piece in France?
Exact availability may change depending on platforms and streaming rights.
In 2026, Crunchyroll notably streams the new episodes of One Piece and the Elbaf arc.
Netflix also offers various content related to the franchise and will welcome THE ONE PIECE in February 2027.
if you're starting One Piece, don't be intimidated by the total number of episodes. Watch one saga at a time. You absolutely don't need to “catch up” on the series quickly.
One Piece: when Manga passion meets décor
After hundreds of episodes, some characters become much more than simple anime heroes.
Luffy embodies freedom, Zoro determination, Sanji loyalty, Nami adventure, and the whole gang above all represents the strength of friendship.
A One Piece wall art piece lets you bring this universe into a bedroom, an office, a contemporary living room, or a gaming space.
Ready to bring the Straw Hat Crew into your home?
Large format, Luffy, Zoro, the full crew or an iconic scene: choose the wall art that will make you think “that one would look incredible on my wall.”
Discover One Piece wall artFAQ: in what order should you watch One Piece?
Which episode should you start One Piece with?
Simply start with episode 1 of the original anime. This way, you will discover Luffy and the first members of the Straw Hat crew in the order intended by the story.
What is the order of the major One Piece sagas?
The general order is: East Blue, Alabasta, Skypiea, Water 7, Thriller Bark, Summit War, Fish-Man Island, Dressrosa, Whole Cake Island, Wano, Egghead, then Elbaf.
Are the One Piece movies mandatory?
No. The movies can be watched as complementary adventures. They are not necessary to follow the anime's main storyline.
Can you skip One Piece fillers?
Yes. Fully filler arcs can generally be skipped without preventing you from understanding the main story. Some, like G-8, are still highly appreciated, however.
Can you skip Skypiea?
It is not recommended. Skypiea contains important elements linked to the history of the world, the Poneglyphs, and several themes that reappear later.
When should you watch One Piece Film: Red?
To avoid spoilers as much as possible, it is best to watch Film Red after finishing Wano.
When should you watch One Piece Fan Letter?
Ideally, watch it after the episodes dedicated to the Straw Hats' reunion in Sabaody, around episode 522.
What is the current One Piece arc in 2026?
The anime entered the Elbaf arc starting with episode 1156, first broadcast in April 2026.
Is the One Piece anime finished?
No. The story continues in 2026 with Elbaf and the great final saga.
What is THE ONE PIECE?
THE ONE PIECE is a new animated adaptation produced by WIT Studio. It will restart the story from East Blue and will be released on Netflix starting in February 2027.
Should you wait for THE ONE PIECE before starting the series?
No. The original anime already lets you follow the full adventure up to the current events. The remake is simply a new way to discover the beginning of the saga.
So, in what order should you watch One Piece?
The answer is ultimately simple: start with episode 1 and follow the sagas in order.
The movies, fillers, and special episodes can then be added as you wish.
East Blue will introduce you to the crew, Alabasta will expand the world, Water 7 will likely move you, Marineford will change how you see the series, and the New World will gradually lead Luffy toward the greatest secrets of his universe.
More than 25 years after the anime began, the journey is still not over. And in 2026, the road to the One Piece continues in Elbaf.
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