I have the same issue, and this bug has been here for some time, the earliest track to when it started that I remember is in around 1.11.2 or 1.12. You have to just jog Minecraft's connection to the internet as it may be slow properly connecting, but its easier for me ever since i switched to the BedrockConnect DNS, but thats unrelated. Anyway, I have devised a strategy to help Mi necraft load the Featured Servers.
Go to your settings straight after the title screen loads, then just go through them all until your proper skin loads.
Go to your profile, then press X or click on the plus beside your Minecoins and let it load until you see all the purchase options.
Finally, go to the Marketplace and wait for that to load.
When that's done, go back to servers, wait about 20 - 30 seconds, then it should this time show the servers.
If that doesn't work, then try some other methods, but there is about a 75% chance (for me, it may differ for you.) for it to work.
I have the same issue, and this bug has been here for some time, the earliest track to when it started that I remember is in around 1.11.2 or 1.12. You have to just jog Minecraft's connection to the internet as it may be slow properly connecting, but its easier for me ever since i switched to the BedrockConnect DNS, but thats unrelated. Anyway, I have devised a strategy to help Mi necraft load the Featured Servers.
Go to your settings straight after the title screen loads, then just go through them all until your proper skin loads.
Go to your profile, then press X or click on the plus beside your Minecoins and let it load until you see all the purchase options.
Finally, go to the Marketplace and wait for that to load.
When that's done, go back to servers, wait about 20 - 30 seconds, then it should this time show the servers.
If that doesn't work, then try some other methods, but there is about a 75% chance (for me, it may differ for you.) for it to work.
Hope this helps!
Edit: As I said, this affects more than 1.16.40.