Eiichiro Oda is leaving no stone unturned in establishing the fabled Elbaph arc (or Elbaf Arc) as the cornerstone of the One Piece final saga. The things already seen and revealed in the arc feel like so much to process, and there is still more in the saga that Oda keeps constantly dropping on the readers. However, the end of chapter 1188 would surely be the highlight of the entire arc that might just prove to be the biggest turning point in the entire story so far. 

The cliffhanger of the previous chapter has left readers desperately waiting for the next chapter, and here are all the details about its release and more.

One Piece Chapter 1189 is set to be released on July 26, 2026, in most regions of the world through official manga platforms. The Final Saga continues to grow with each new chapter, and this next one might just be the biggest one yet. The chapter will be accessible in Japan on July 27 at 12 AM JST. Fans in the majority of other nations will be able to read the chapter on Sunday, July 26, due to time differences. The latest chapter will be free to download on the Shonen Jump app, Viz Media's website, and Manga Plus by Shueisha.

There is certainly a sizable time gap between the upcoming chapter and the previous chapter, which was released on July 12, 2026. To maintain a sustainable release schedule, Oda frequently takes brief breaks after publishing multiple consecutive chapters (typically after releasing two or three chapters in a row). This relatively long waiting period for Chapter 1189 was a result of one such break.

One Piece's Chapter 1188 concluded with one of the most shocking cliffhangers of the One Piece saga. In Gear 5, Luffy gave it his all, even displaying a humorous genie-like form that symbolized the liberation of his Nika abilities. Imu, however, never appeared concerned. It was evident that the world's ruler was still in total control of the battle since every attack was easily deflected or dodged.

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What happened to Luffy after Imu stabbed him with the enigmatic "Blade of Nothingness – Vohu" is the most important mystery heading into chapter 1189.

Whether Luffy has only been hurt or whether Imu's attack has a far more serious consequence could be revealed in the upcoming One Piece chapter 1189. Fans may also learn more about Joy Boy in chapter 1189. After stabbing Luffy, Imu asserted that Joy Boy was far stronger than Luffy is now. 

Since Imu is one of the few people who truly knew Joy Boy throughout the Void Century, that line has grown to be one of the Final Saga's most significant revelations. It is high time now that Eiichiro Oda finally shows how strong the original Joy Boy truly was and why Imu still dreads him. Interestingly, chapter 1189 comes out around the same time as One Piece episode 1171 releases.

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Do you think Luffy will make it out alive after a deadly blow from Imu? Share your thoughts.