Outdoor concerts could be allowed in the autumn if COVID-19 remains suppressed.
Outdoor cultural events with a few thousand people could return as early as September, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Meanwhile, cinemas may be allowed to reopen in August with social distancing.
A ban on mass gatherings remains in place until September.
While some events may return after that, Culture Minister Josepha Madigan suggested the majority won't be going ahead in 2020.
Minister Madigan said: "We have to bear in mind, particularly if we're talking about theatres... the demographic that are more likely to attend a demographic or even opera are generally of an older demographic. These are things we have to take into account.
"We can't rule out anything later in the year, but at this stage - probably for the summer - the majority of them will be going online."
Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, said if the virus remains suppressed outdoor events attended by up to 5,000 people - but "unlikely to be more than that" - could happen in September.
He said: "I would envisage cinemas, for example, opening in August, but socially distanced.
"I am told that cinemas can operate at a profit socially distanced... that's really hard for live performances for theatres, so that's going to be trickier. If it's safe to do so, we'll do it."
