A statement issued by the team said the Belgian rider is "still dealing with the effects of an elbow injury and has not recovered in time to start the Tour de France at the required level".
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider was expected to be a key support rider to Jonas Vingegaard's hopes of winning the yellow jersey back, but will now miss the French Grand Tour for the first time since 2018.
Van Aert injured his elbow during training leading up to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and as he subsequently developed an infection, he was forced to be hospitalized. Now, the team has decided that he needs rest to recover fully from the injury.
"This is, of course, a big disappointment. The Tour de France is one of my main goals every year," Van Aert said in a statement on the squad's website.
"Unfortunately, a crash during training has put a spanner in the works, and the injury to my elbow has worsened and has still not healed sufficiently. Together with the team, we have concluded that starting the Tour in top form is not feasible at this point. My full focus is now on my recovery so I can return to my best level later this season."
The Tour de France begins on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The 113th edition will kick off in Barcelona, Spain with a 19.7-kilometer team time trial