diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 33d5072d9c..90e37c8c59 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -410,8 +410,8 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_fan_state(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *co
   }
   if (traits.supports_direction())
     msg.direction = static_cast<enums::FanDirection>(fan->direction);
-  if (traits.supports_preset_modes())
-    msg.set_preset_mode(StringRef(fan->preset_mode));
+  if (traits.supports_preset_modes() && fan->has_preset_mode())
+    msg.set_preset_mode(StringRef(fan->get_preset_mode()));
   return fill_and_encode_entity_state(fan, msg, FanStateResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE, conn, remaining_size, is_single);
 }
 uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_fan_info(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *conn, uint32_t remaining_size,
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
index c4abab0b4a..cfc09f4d53 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
@@ -151,24 +151,12 @@ bool Fan::set_preset_mode_(const char *preset_mode) {
     return false;  // Preset mode not supported or no change
   }
   this->preset_mode_ = validated;
-  // Keep deprecated member in sync during deprecation period
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
-  this->preset_mode = validated;
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
   return true;
 }
 
 bool Fan::set_preset_mode_(const std::string &preset_mode) { return this->set_preset_mode_(preset_mode.c_str()); }
 
-void Fan::clear_preset_mode_() {
-  this->preset_mode_ = nullptr;
-  // Keep deprecated member in sync during deprecation period
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
-  this->preset_mode.clear();
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
-}
+void Fan::clear_preset_mode_() { this->preset_mode_ = nullptr; }
 
 void Fan::add_on_state_callback(std::function<void()> &&callback) { this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback)); }
 void Fan::publish_state() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
index 16fe42f9f4..33e546b2bb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
@@ -111,11 +111,6 @@ class Fan : public EntityBase {
   int speed{0};
   /// The current direction of the fan
   FanDirection direction{FanDirection::FORWARD};
-  // The current preset mode of the fan
-  // Deprecated: Use get_preset_mode() for reading and set_preset_mode_() for writing. Will be removed in 2026.5.0
-  __attribute__((deprecated("Use get_preset_mode() for reading and set_preset_mode_() for writing instead of "
-                            ".preset_mode. Will be removed in 2026.5.0")));
-  std::string preset_mode{};
 
   FanCall turn_on();
   FanCall turn_off();
@@ -135,6 +130,9 @@ class Fan : public EntityBase {
   /// Get the current preset mode (returns pointer to string stored in traits, or nullptr if not set)
   const char *get_preset_mode() const { return this->preset_mode_; }
 
+  /// Check if a preset mode is currently active
+  bool has_preset_mode() const { return this->preset_mode_ != nullptr; }
+
  protected:
   friend FanCall;
   friend struct FanRestoreState;