Real Madrid presidential election set for 7 June as Pérez and Riquelme launch campaigns

Election date and logistics confirmed

Real Madrid's Electoral Board, chaired by José Manuel de Carlos, announced on Tuesday evening that the presidential election will be held on Sunday, 7 June 2026. Voting will run uninterrupted from 9:00 to 20:00 at the Pabellón de Baloncesto of the Ciudad Real Madrid in Valdebebas, rather than the traditional venue of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The change of location is due to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Madrid, who is scheduled to hold a large gathering with the diocesan community at the Bernabéu on 8 June. The board also confirmed complementary procedures for postal voting, which will be communicated to the electoral roll.

The candidates

Two candidates have been officially validated: incumbent Florentino Pérez (member number 1,484) and businessman Enrique Riquelme (member number 41,736). Pérez, who has led the club for over two decades across two separate terms, is presenting a continuity ticket with Eduardo Fernández de Blas, Pedro López Jiménez, and Enrique Sánchez as vice-presidents. His campaign will emphasise the club's sporting achievements, including seven Champions League titles under his leadership, and the completion of the renovated Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Riquelme, an entrepreneur from Alicante, has assembled an electoral list featuring business figures such as Rosauro Varo. His campaign will focus on returning prominence to the club members and has already stirred debate about the club's sporting policy, with the name of international midfielder Rodri reportedly linked to his candidacy.

Until today, everything I have done in my life has been to win. Everything. If I am going to do something, I do it well and I do it prepared. And this time we are prepared and we are going to win.

Campaign kick-off

Both candidates will present their projects on Wednesday. Riquelme will hold an event near the Bernabéu in the morning, focusing on what he describes as "the greatest transformation for the Real Madrid member." Pérez will present his candidacy in the evening at the Meliá Castilla hotel. Riquelme has publicly challenged Pérez to debate "as many times as necessary in a healthy and respectful manner," though the incumbent has not yet responded to the invitation.

Pérez's campaign video

Ahead of his formal presentation, Pérez released a campaign video on social media emphasising his record. The video highlights 66 titles won, including seven Champions Leagues, and features images of iconic players from his tenure such as Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé.

Directing the biggest club in the world is not improvised. It requires long-term thinking and the ability to stay the course. We have transformed Real Madrid into the most valuable club in the world, with the highest revenues, the best reputation, and it is the most valuable brand on the planet.

The video also showcases the renovated Bernabéu, which Pérez calls "the most advanced stadium on the planet," and announces plans for the next expansion of the Ciudad Deportiva in Valdebebas. The account from which the video was originally posted was later suspended by platform X.

Historical context

This will be the first contested Real Madrid presidential election in 20 years. The last time members voted was in the summer of 2006, after Pérez resigned, when Ramón Calderón defeated Juan Miguel Villar Mir, Lorenzo Sanz, Julián Palacios, and Arturo Baldasano. In the subsequent elections of 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025, Pérez was the only candidate. The last time Pérez faced opponents was in 2004, when he won with 28,416 votes (91.6%) against Lorenzo Sanz (1,222 votes, 4%) and Arturo Baldasano (513 votes, 1.6%).