<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--Generated by DFIN XBRL Instance Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ - Version R3.0 - on 22-March-2025 [01:03:07] {AM}-->
<linkbase xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
<roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frt-20250320.xsd#CoverPage" roleURI="http://www.federalrealty.com/role/CoverPage" />
<presentationLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://www.federalrealty.com/role/CoverPage">
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_1292595" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1292596" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_1292595" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1292596" use="optional" order="1" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2024/elts/us-gaap-2024.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1292597" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1292596" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1292597" use="optional" order="2" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2024/elts/us-gaap-2024.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1292598" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1292597" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1292598" use="optional" order="3" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="frt-20250320.xsd#frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_1292634" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1292598" xlink:to="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_1292634" use="optional" order="4" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="frt-20250320.xsd#frt_DepositorySharesMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_1292635" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1292598" xlink:to="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_1292635" use="optional" order="5" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_1292601" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1292596" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_1292601" use="optional" order="6" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_1292602" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_1292601" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_1292602" use="optional" order="7" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="frt-20250320.xsd#frt_FederalRealtyOPLPMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_FederalRealtyOPLPMember_1292603" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_1292602" xlink:to="loc_frt_FederalRealtyOPLPMember_1292603" use="optional" order="8" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1292596" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" use="optional" order="9" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_1292605" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_1292605" use="optional" order="10" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_1292606" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_1292606" use="optional" order="11" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_1292607" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_1292607" use="optional" order="12" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_1292610" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_1292610" use="optional" order="13" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_1292611" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_1292611" use="optional" order="14" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_1292612" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_1292612" use="optional" order="15" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_1292613" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_1292613" use="optional" order="16" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_1292614" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_1292614" use="optional" order="17" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_1292616" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_1292616" use="optional" order="18" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_1292617" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_1292617" use="optional" order="19" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_1292618" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_1292618" use="optional" order="20" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1292619" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1292619" use="optional" order="21" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_1292620" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_1292620" use="optional" order="22" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_1292621" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_1292621" use="optional" order="23" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_1292622" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_1292622" use="optional" order="24" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_1292623" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_1292623" use="optional" order="25" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_1292624" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_1292624" use="optional" order="26" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1292608" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1292608" use="optional" order="27" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1292609" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1292609" use="optional" order="28" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_1292626" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_1292626" use="optional" order="29" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_1292627" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_1292627" use="optional" order="30" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2024/dei-2024.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_1292628" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_1292604" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_1292628" use="optional" order="31" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
</presentationLink>
</linkbase>
