More than 1.5 million people thronged the streets of Paris for a "White Night" of music and culture on Saturday, with France's Rugby World Cup quarter-final win over New Zealand adding to the festive atmosphere.

"It is a very beautiful night for Paris because of sports and the art of White Night," Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe told AFP as he attended a concert in the city's 13th arrondissement.

Crowds of people, many with their faces painted in the French tricolour, took advantage of the mild autumn evening to mill around music and art events located throughout the city and throng cafes and bars which stayed open late for the "Nuit Blanche."

France' rugby upset over New Zealand helped make the atmosphere "positive and peaceful," said Nuit Blanche organiser Christophe Girard, adding that more than 1.5 million people were estimated to have turned out.

Now in its 6th year, this year's Nuit Blanche was dedicated to Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician seized by left-wing Colombian rebels in 2002 while campaigning as a green party presidential candidate.