Abstract The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor (PAC1R) is a class B G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) that engages both G proteins and β-arrestins to mediate diverse signaling responses, yet how PAC1R adopts distinct intracellular conformations to achieve this transducer selectivity remains poorly understood. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of PAC1R in complex with β-arrestin 1 (βarr1), revealing a core-engaged conformation.