We assessed the impact of antiviral prophylaxis and preemptive therapy on the incidence and outcomes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in a nationwide prospective cohort of solid organ transplant recipients. Risk factors associated with CMV disease and graft failure‐free survival were analyzed using Cox regression models. One thousand two hundred thirty‐nine patients transplanted from May 2008 until March 2011 were included; 466 (38%) patients received CMV prophylaxis and 522 (42%) patients were managed preemptively. Overall incidence of CMV disease was 6.05% and was linked to CMV serostatus (D+/R− vs. R+, hazard ratio HR 5.36 95% CI 3.14–9.14, p < 0.001). No difference in the incidence of CMV disease was observed in patients receiving antiviral prophylaxis as compared to the preemptive approach (HR 1.16 95% CI 0.63–2.17, p = 0.63). CMV disease was not associated with a lower graft failure‐free survival (HR 1.27 95% CI 0.64–2.53, p = 0.50). Nevertheless, patients followed by the preemptive approach had an inferior graft failure‐free survival after a median of 1.05 years of follow‐up (HR 1.63 95% CI 1.01–2.64, p = 0.044). The incidence of CMV disease in this cohort was low and not influenced by the preventive strategy used. However, patients on CMV prophylaxis were more likely to be free from graft failure. In this nationwide cohort of solid organ transplant recipients, the authors find that the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease is similar irrespective of the antiviral preventive strategy used (preemptive vs. prophylaxis), although patients who received antiviral prophylaxis have better graft failure‐free survival.