Hector Bowen
Hector Bowen (Prospero the Enchanter) is a skilled magician who earns his living by performing on the stage. He proves to be rather competitive and ambitious. Unfortunately for his daughter, Hector is not only a strict but also a cruel parent. To prepare Celia for the competition, he tests her endurance and will. More often than not, he stays mute to Celia’s tears. To Hector’s credit, he is as strict and demanding with Celia as he is with himself, and some of his teachings prove useful to Celia. He often conducts experiments on himself. Eventually, one of them goes wrong and Hector loses his physical body, but he stays alive nevertheless.
Celia Bowen
Celia Bowen is a daughter of Hector Bowen. Unlike her father, her mother couldn’t perform magic. To the girl’s dismay, the woman used to consider her the “devil’s child." Celia starts living with Hector Bowen after her mother’s death. Celia proves to be extremely gifted—even more talented than her own father. The years of endless challenges and work help her to master the art of magic. Celia Bowen is not only a skilled illusionist: she also has a kind heart and is capable of self-sacrifice for love’s sake.
Chandresh Christopher Lefèvre
Chandresh Christophe Lefèvre is a successful theatrical producer and an owner of the “Night Circus." He is an ambitious, eccentric, artistic personality. However, the longer the contest between Marco and Celia lasts, the worse Chandresh feels. Alcohol and nervous tension make him stop working on other projects.
Marco Alisdair
Marco Alisdair is Celia’s competitor. He was picked up by A. H. among other boys to be trained for “a game." He spends his childhood reading books, learning, traveling, and working on his skills all the time. Just like Celia, Marco doesn’t know what to expect, nor how the game is supposed to develop.
Caroline
Caroline is Bailey’s sister. It is she who dares her brother to sneak into the circus and bring something back as evidence.
Bailey
Bailey was an ordinary boy with big dreams. He is captivated by Poppet and the circus, and he visits the circus as often as he can while he grows up. After many years, he encounters Poppet again, and he delights in spending time with her and Widget. At the end of the novel, he takes on the role of caretaker of the circus after Celia and Marco end their competition.
Ana Padva
Mme. Ana Padva is a retired Romanian prima ballerina. She designs clothes for the artists of the Night Circus.
Mr. Ethan W. Barris
Mr. Ethan W. Barris is an engineer and architect. He often collaborates with Celia and Marco to create something impressive for the circus.
The Burgess sisters
The Burgess sisters, Tara and Lainie, are “a bit of everything." They can dance, act, and, once, they worked as librarians. They help Chandresh establish the circus. As time passes and the circus's curiosities become undeniable, Tara tries to investigate it, but she dies due to an unfortunate "accident" that readers learn is the work of A.H.
Tsukiko
Tsukiko is a contortionist. Her body is covered with tattoos and she is as flexible as a snake. Later on, Celia learns that Tsukiko is a winner of the previous game. She was prepared by A. H., and her opponent was prepared by Celia’s father. Just like Celia and Marco, Tsukiko and her opponent fell in love. To save Tsukiko’s life and end the game, her opponent committed suicide. Tsukiko says that she didn’t win the game: she “survived” it.
Herr Friedrick Thiessen
Herr Friedrick Thiessen is a famous clockmaker commissioned by Barris to make something wondrous for the circus. When he visits the circus, he falls in love with it and begins to write of his experiences there. Those writings provoke others to write of their experiences, and Thiessen becomes the head of a loose organization of circus-lovers called the rêveurs. They try to travel as much as possible to visit the circus; they are distinguished by small sartorial flashes of red. Thiessen and Celia become friends, so it is particularly distressing to her when he is accidentally murdered at the circus.
Winston Aidan Murray
Winston Aidan Murray, "Widget," is Poppet’s brother. The twins were born the opening night of the circus and thus have special gifts; Widget's is to read the past on people. He is a smart and caring boy who loves the circus deeply.
Penelope "Poppet" Aislin Murray
Penelope "Poppet" Aislin Murray is the twin sister of Widget. She has an ability to see the future and convinces Bailey to join the circus because she sees that he is crucuial to its survival. She is distinguished by her bright red hair.
Isobel Martin
Isobel Martin is a fortune-teller. Trying to help Marco to win the competition, she joins the circus to read the cards. She loves Marco with all her heart, which is why his interest in Celia causes Isobel lots of suffering.
Mr. A. H.
Mr. A.H., or the man in the grey suit, or even "Alexander," is a magician. Unlike Prospero the Enchanter, he doesn’t perform on the stage. He is the most mysterious character of the story. Alexander appears when he wants and leaves when he wants. Alexander is neither good nor bad: he is neutral, just like the color of his eyes and the costume. He chooses Marco as his competitor for Celia; Tsukiko was his last student and she won her contest.
