Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

In connection with the Annual Report of Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Edward J. Fritsch, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Edward J. Fritsch

Edward J. Fritsch

Chief Executive Officer

February 5, 2019