Cinemas and theatres can return to 100 per cent capacity when the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions comes into effect next week.
From 9 am on April 14, cinemas and indoor performance venues with forward-facing, fixed-tiered seating can return to full capacity.
Events must be ticketed and seated, and venues must have an approved COVID safety plan. If they do not, they must remain at 75 per cent capacity.
ACT Health said venues that held more than one event on at a time must have staggered start and finish times, to avoid crowds gathering.
Canberra Theatre Centre deputy director Gill Hugonnet on Thursday said staff were "absolutely thrilled" about the announcement.
She said tickets for 64 productions were currently on sale at the theatre, and the bump up to full capacity meant it could make another 35,000 more seats available in those shows.
"This return to our standard capacity is a return to sustainability," Ms Hugonnet said.
"It represents jobs - jobs in the arts for our artists, for our ushers, for our technicians.
"It also brings confidence to the touring circuit that we can get shows back on the road again."
Ms Hugonnet said 2020 had been a difficult year for the theatre, especially as staff had to maintain relationships with promoters during the "dark" COVID-19 period.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the increased capacity for cinemas and indoor performance venues was "another positive step towards our continuing reopening of the economy".
While restrictions weren't easing further for live music venues, the minister said authorities would give them updated advice on how to host events and apply for an exemption for big crowds.
Arts Minister Tara Cheyne said the live music sector had been one of the hardest hit throughout the pandemic.
"ACT Health and Access Canberra will be reaching out to, and working directly with, relevant affected businesses in the coming days," she said.
Ms Stephen-Smith said live music venues would not go to 100 per cent capacity for some time.
"We do recognise it's not going to be practical in all instances to be seated, so in that sense it's unlikely they will go to 100 per cent capacity," she said.
"Each individual venue will be supported on a case by case basis."
The latest changes bring attendance to cinemas and theatres to the largest since the pandemic began.
"A number of factors help to reduce the risks associated with holding larger gatherings at these venues, including the fact that events must be ticketed and seated, venues have front-facing tiered seating for a single audience, mandatory check-in using the Check In CBR app for contact tracing requirements, and endorsed COVID Safety Plans in place," ACT Health said.
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