Coriolanus is an 18-year-old Academy student striving to maintain the illusion of his family's historical wealth and prestige. Orphaned by the war, he lives in poverty with his cousin and grandmother, subsisting on meager rations like lima beans. He views the new mentorship program of the Tenth Annual Hunger Games as his sole opportunity to secure a University scholarship and restore his family's status. Highly conscious of appearances, he calculates every social interaction for maximum personal benefit.

Lucy Gray is the 16-year-old female tribute from District 12, though she identifies as a member of the Covey, a nomadic group of musical performers. She wears a colorful, rainbow-ruffled dress that belonged to her mother and possesses a natural charisma that immediately captures the Capitol audience's attention. Rather than displaying fear, she uses her musical talent and theatrical flair to charm viewers and gain an edge in the brutal contest.

Sejanus is a wealthy Academy student whose family bought their way into the Capitol from District 2 by manufacturing munitions during the war. He feels deeply alienated in Capitol society and carries immense guilt over his privileged position. Unlike his peers, he views the district tributes as human beings and openly protests the cruelty of the Hunger Games, specifically dreading his assignment to mentor a boy from his former home.

Dr. Gaul is the Head Gamemaker and the mastermind behind the Capitol's experimental weapons division. She creates genetically modified "muttations" and views human nature with profound cynicism, believing that people are inherently violent beasts requiring absolute authoritarian control. She takes a particular interest in Coriolanus, testing his morality and encouraging his darkest instincts.

Tigris is Coriolanus's cousin and housemate. Despite the Snow family's extreme poverty, she works tirelessly to maintain their dignity by repurposing old fabrics and securing meager food rations. She is warm, deeply loyal to Coriolanus, and serves as his primary emotional support in the Capitol.

The aging matriarch of the Snow family, Grandma'am clings stubbornly to the memory of their pre-war grandeur. She refuses to acknowledge their current poverty, holding tightly to old prejudices and expressing open disgust for anyone born in the districts. She raises Coriolanus with the expectation that he will restore the family to absolute power.

Casca Highbottom is the Dean of the Academy and is publicly credited with the creation of the Hunger Games. He is heavily reliant on morphling to cope with his reality and directs a specific, venomous resentment toward Coriolanus Snow. He actively seeks to humiliate Coriolanus and block his path to graduation and power.

Clemensia is a classmate of Coriolanus at the Academy and a fellow mentor. She claims partial credit for a project Coriolanus completed alone, leading to a terrifying confrontation with Dr. Gaul's experimental snakes that leaves her severely injured.

Marcus is the male tribute from District 2 and a former classmate of Sejanus Plinth. Because of their shared history, his selection for the Games is a source of immense guilt for Sejanus. He fiercely resists the Capitol's attempts to dehumanize him and refuses to engage in the mentor program.

Jessup is the male tribute from District 12. He is physically strong but suffers a severe disadvantage early on when he contracts rabies in the Capitol. Despite the brutal nature of the Games, he initially maintains an alliance with his district partner.

Lysistrata is an Academy student assigned to mentor Jessup, the male tribute from District 12. Unlike many of her peers who view the tributes as animals, she recognizes her mentee's goodness and publicly defends his humanity during television interviews.

Strabo Plinth is Sejanus's wealthy father. He built a munitions empire in District 2 during the war, allowing him to buy his family's way into Capitol society. He is highly pragmatic, using his vast wealth to shield his idealistic son from the consequences of his rebellion.

Mrs. Plinth, referred to affectionately as Ma, is Sejanus's mother. She deeply misses her home in District 2 and feels entirely out of place among the Capitol elite. She frequently bakes familiar treats for her son and relies heavily on Coriolanus, mistakenly believing him to be Sejanus's devoted friend.

Arachne is an Academy student and mentor to the female tribute from District 10. Arrogant and cruel, she taunts her starving tribute with a sandwich, leading to a swift and brutal retaliation that shocks the Capitol.

Billy Taupe is Lucy Gray's ex-boyfriend and a former member of her social circle in District 12. His unfaithfulness with the mayor's daughter, Mayfair, is heavily implied to be the catalyst for Lucy Gray's reaping, making him a central figure of conflict in her life.

Mayfair is the privileged daughter of the District 12 mayor. She leverages her father's political power to punish her enemies, specifically targeting Lucy Gray after initiating a relationship with Billy Taupe.

Maude Ivory is a young member of the Covey and Lucy Gray's cousin. She possesses an extraordinary memory for songs and acts as a trusted confidante and messenger for her family in District 12.

Lucky is the official television announcer for the Hunger Games. He provides running commentary on the brutal events in the arena, attempting to spin the horror into engaging entertainment for the Capitol citizens.